This seminar explores the modeling of biological growth and patterning across diverse systems — the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena, Arabidopsis thaliana plants, Drosophila melanogaster flies, and an epidemic spreading across a population. We delve into how genetic and environmental factors influence the quasi-regular patterning of nitrogen-fixing specialized cells, called heterocysts, in Anabaena. The model highlights key genes and cellular processes that govern pattern appearance and maintenance, illustrating the impact of physical boundary conditions in biological systems. For Arabidopsis, we examine how light and temperature cues affect the growth of the hypocotyl through interactions between photoreceptors and thermal sensors, shedding light on plant morphogenesis. In Drosophila, we focus on how BMP2/4 signaling regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis to ensure precise organ size during development. Finally, epidemic spread has been a topic of grave concern in recent years, and it provides a perfect example to discuss both the limitations of mathematical prediction and the right level of complexity a model should have.

If you would like to attend the seminar, please register here.