Computer modeling in developmental biology: growing today, essential tomorrow.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Mathematical Biology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• D'Arcy Thompson's 1917 book, 'On Growth and Form,' pioneered mathematical approaches to morphogenesis.
• The centenary of Thompson's work provides an opportunity to review modern computational methods in developmental biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current computer modeling projects in developmental biology.
• To explore how modeling contributes to the scientific process in understanding organism development.
• To discuss the future trajectory of modeling in developmental biology.

Main Methods:

• Presentation of diverse computer modeling projects in developmental biology.
• Categorization of models based on their contribution to the scientific process.
• Analysis of current trends and future prospects in the field.

Main Results:

• Current modeling projects span molecular patterning to tissue morphogenesis.
• Modeling approaches vary in their contribution to scientific inquiry.
• The field is rapidly evolving with new computational techniques.

Conclusions:

• Computer modeling is integral to modern developmental biology research.
• Future modeling efforts will likely integrate diverse scales and approaches.
• Continued advancements in computational power will drive new discoveries in morphogenesis.