Computational Biology Group, University of Amsterdam, NL

Simple mechanics for biological phenomena

In this presentation we will talk about two very different applications of a similar model based on elementary mechanics.

The first application is a model of filamentous gliding bacteria which are sensitive to light fields and are capable of placing themselves quite precisely within the environment based on the light conditions. By simply projecting a light field on a culture of these microorganisms within a Petri dish, the population redistributes itself to reflect the projection, effectively imprinting whatever is projected onto the dish. Using a simple physical model for the filaments and equipping them with a realistic movement strategy, we reproduce the biological phenomenon.

The second application is the early development of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, which has been gaining momentum as a model organism in Evo-Devo. We use the same paradigm to create a model for the cells (blastomeres), which compose the hollow, multicell embryo (the blastula). These cells perform a process, called gastrulation, which essentially transforms the embryo from a monolayer epithelium into a bilayer and which is the first major event in development following fertilization. We enumerate the processes involved in this phenomenon and, using the computational model, assess the role of each towards the final result.

Computational Biology Laboratory of the University of East Anglia, UK

Kathi: Computational advances in analysis of phylogenetic trees and networks

Vincent: "Recent progresses in microRNA targets identification

(not supplied)