Modelling cell migration, proliferation and interactions on growing domains

Thesis

Motile and proliferative cell populations in growing tissues are a common feature of mammalian embryonic development. The aim of the work presented in this thesis is to develop models that better describe the behaviour of motile and proliferative cell populations on growing domains. We motivate our study by investigating the behaviour of melanoblasts, a migratory and proliferative cell population responsible for fur pigmentation in the embryonic mouse. We then develop mathematical models to describe cell populations with cell-cell interactions such as adhesion and repulsion, cell populations where spatial correlations established by cell proliferation play an important role, and scenarios where cell populations consist of different species. We also develop methods to improve the identification of motility parameters in migratory cell populations. The processes we model often occur at developmental phases that are difficult to observe experimentally, and so mathematical and computational modelling can play a central role in understanding the behaviour of motile and proliferative cell populations in growing tissues.

Authors: Ross, R

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-8gyvez04r
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford