2-DIMENSIONAL FROTHS AND THE DYNAMICS OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUES

Two-dimensional foams an used to model the evolution and the steady st ate of biological tissues. When only cell division occurs, we deduce t he mode of division simply from the stationary distribution of the num ber of sides per cells, by inverting a system of coupled rate equation s. Comparisons with experimental data confirm the method. We then disc uss the time evolution of tissues evolving both through cell division and cell disappearance, theoretically and by topological simulations. Simulations reproduce realistically the steady state of the innermost layer of the human epidermis. We conclude that short-ranged topologica l information is sufficient to explain the evolution and stability of biological tissues. [S1063-651X(98)08111-2].