A parallel implementation of the cellular potts model for simulation of cell-based morphogenesis

Abstract

Glazier and Graner's Cellular Potts Model (CPM) has found use in a wide variety of biological simulations. However, most current CPM implementations use a sequential modified Metropolis algorithm which restricts the size of simulations. In this paper we present a parallel CPM algorithm for simulations of morphogenesis, which includes cell-cell adhesion, haptotaxis and cell division. The algorithm uses appropriate data structures and checkerboard subgrids for parallelization. Communication and updating algorithms synchronize properties of cells simulated on different computer nodes. We benchmark our algorithm by simulating cell sorting and chondrogenic condensation. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.