*************** ANNOUNCEMENT **********************
* University of Utah Mathematical Biology Seminar *
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Wednesday, June 23 at 4pm in INSCC 110


Speaker: Atsushi Mochizuki (Dept. of Biology, Kyushu Univ.)


Title: Mathematical modeling of spatial pattern of cone photoreceptor
cells in fish retina

Abstract:

In the fish retina, cone photoreceptor cells are arranged regularly
and make a 2-dimensional pattern.  In case of Zebrafish, one specific
subtype of cone cells appears with period two in one direction,
however, it appears with period six in the perpendicular direction.
The mechanism of the formation of this unique pattern is unknown. I
developed several different models of continuous Markovian transition.
In the cell sorting model, the pattern is assumed to be formed by the
rearrangement of differentiated cells.  In the cell differentiation
model, I assumed that the differentiation of regularly arranged cells
is responsible to the pattern formation.  The assumption of "double
cone" is found to be necessary in both models.  The correct pattern is
derived by computer simulation only when the chosen parameters of cell
interaction is appropriate.  I could determine the condition in
strength of cell interaction for generating the observed pattern.