B. Dubertret et al., 2-DIMENSIONAL FROTHS AND THE DYNAMICS OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUES, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics, 58(5), 1998, pp. 6368-6378
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].