Varner Victor D, Taber Larry A
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Biosystems. 2012 Sep;109(3):412-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2012.05.001. Epub 2012 May 14.
Researchers in developmental biology are increasingly recognizing the value of theoretical models in studies of morphogenesis. However, creating and testing realistic quantitative models for morphogenetic processes can be an extremely challenging task. The focus of this paper is on models for the mechanics of morphogenesis. Models for these problems often must include large changes in geometry, leading to highly nonlinear problems with the possibility of multiple solutions that must be sorted out using experimental data. Here, we illustrate our approach to these problems using the specific example of head fold formation in the early chick embryo. The interplay between experimental and theoretical results is emphasized throughout, as the model is gradually refined. Some of the limitations inherent in theoretical/computational modeling of biological systems are also discussed.
发育生物学领域的研究人员越来越认识到理论模型在形态发生研究中的价值。然而，为形态发生过程创建和测试现实的定量模型可能是一项极具挑战性的任务。本文的重点是形态发生力学模型。这些问题的模型通常必须包括几何形状的巨大变化，从而导致高度非线性问题，可能存在多个解，必须使用实验数据进行梳理。在这里，我们以早期鸡胚头部褶皱形成为具体例子来说明我们处理这些问题的方法。在整个过程中，随着模型的逐步完善，实验结果与理论结果之间的相互作用得到了强调。同时也讨论了生物系统理论/计算建模中固有的一些局限性。
