Computational automata simulation of blastocoel roof thinning in the Xenopu laevis embryo

Abstract

Computer simulation of the interactions between numerous cells is a novel approach to analyzing and comprehending the spatial and temporal patterns that are formed in a large network of cells within a tissue. Coupled with experimental observation, computational modeling at the cellular level is a powerful method that is capable of providing valuable information about the functions of quite complex biological systems. For this study, the biological system under examination is the Xenopus laevis embryo. In the blastocoel roof of the Xenopus laevis embryo, thinning of multiple cell layers into two cell layers is accomplished via radial intercalation of the deep layer cells. A cell-based simulation has been developed to analzye the process of blastocoel roof (BCR) thinning event. The cellular automata model can predict important characteristics of the BCR thinning process including total thinning time and spatial fibronectin fibril densities.