A cellular automaton to model the development of shoot meristems of Arabidopsis thaliana

Motivation: Development of organisms is a very complex process in that a lot of gene networks of different cell types are to be integrated. Development of a cell automaton (Ermentrout, Edelshtein-Keshet,: 1993) that models the morphodynamics of different cell types is the first step in the understanding and analysis of the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the functioning of the developmental gene networks. Results: A model of a cell automaton has been developed, which simulates the embryonic development of the shoot meristems of Arabidopsis thaliana. The model adequately describes the basic stages in the development of this organ in wild and mutant types.