Three-dimensional computer modelling system for the study of biological structures

A three-dimensional computer modelling system has been developed for use in biology, and is currently running on a Sun3 computer. The data originate as a series of two-dimensional micrographs which are digitised via a TV camera. The two-dimensional images are used to select features of interest and to construct a three-dimensional model. This model can be viewed in vector or solid format, it can be rotated about three orthogonal axes and can be viewed in three dimensions as a stereo pair or an anaglyph. The system has been used in a large number of projects over the past 10-15 years, for example, to examine physiological and nerve structures. The time-consuming part of the process is the selection of features, which involves a high level of biological expertise. Present developments are concerned with reduction of the time spent in feature recognition and involve the introduction of expert systems together with human-computer interaction to deal with problems of identification.