N. Rivier et B. Dubertret, WHY DOES SKIN STAY SMOOTH - THE DYNAMICS OF TISSUES IN STATISTICAL EQUILIBRIUM, Philosophical magazine. B. Physics of condensed matter. Structural, electronic, optical and magnetic properties, 72(3), 1995, pp. 311-322
The 'molecular dynamics' of cells in the epidermis of mammals is prese
nted by generalizing a model of grain growth in polycrystals or coarse
ning foams due to Telley. The tissue remains in statistical equilibriu
m in spite of and because of constant renewal through local elementary
topological transformations, which are division (mitosis), neighbour
exchange and detachment of the cells. The global evolution and respons
e of tissues can now be described realistically, geometrically with ve
ry few parameters and little biological input. The dynamics of cell di
vision is modelled for the first time.