Applying computer modeling to examine complex dynamics and pattern formation of tissue growth

For research in areas such as developmental biology and cancer, understandi ng the formation and regrowth of tissue is of great importance. Since compl ex system behavior makes it difficult to interpret dynamics and pattern for mation of tissue growth, it is helpful to have a way to simulate the cell s ystems and test hypotheses about the mechanisms by which the system is resp onding. Computer "modeling experiments" can serve this purpose, as we show with an example of the small intestine epithelial cells' response to cytosi ne arabinoside. This example demonstrates that nonhomogeneities in the cell population can play an important role and emphasizes the need to use a mod eling approach, like our spatial modeling, that addresses the differences w ithin the tissue structure. These types of "modeling experiments" can guide researchers with further experiments and provide clues as to how complex c ell proliferation behavior is linked to underlying molecular phenomena. (C) 1998 academic Press.