This book focuses on a challenging application field of cellular automata: pattern formation in biological systems, such as the growth of microorganisms, dynamics of cellular tissue and tumors, and formation of pigment cell patterns. These phenomena, resulting from complex cellular interactions, cannot be deduced solely from experimental analysis, but can be more easily examined using mathematical models, in particular, cellular automaton models.
While there are various books treating cellular automaton modeling, this interdisciplinary work is the first one covering biological applications. The book is aimed at researchers, practitioners, and students in applied mathematics, mathematical biology, computational physics, bioengineering, and computer science interested in a cellular automaton approach to biological modeling.

Inhalt

Foreword - Philip K. Maini List of Figures List of Notation Introduction and Outline On the Origin of Patterns Mathematical Modeling of Biological Pattern Formation Cellular Automata Random Movement Growth Processes Adhesive Cell Interaction Alignment and Cellular Swarming Pigment Cell Pattern Formation Tissue and Tumor Development Turing Patterns and Excitable Media Discussion and Outlook Appendix A. Growth Processes: A Mean-Field Equation Appendix B. Turing Patterns Appendix C. Excitable Media: Complete Interaction Rule Appendix D. Isotropy, Lattices, and Tensors References Index