Scientists Create Digital Bacteria To Forge Advances In Biomedical Research Biological Assays On Computer Study Molecular Basis Of Cellular Behavior
In this article you can learn about a certain type of computer simulation developed by scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Chicago/ Argonne National Laboratory Seed Grant Program, this type of computer simulation is called AgentCell, which allows scientists to study the biochemical fluctuation of a single cell and how it reacts and behaves with other cells. Have a closer observation of how cells look like under a compound binocular microscope. According to the article, the simulations construction has a lot of advantages. Some of them in particular are its possible uses in the development of new drugs, cancer research, and fighting off bioterrorism. Another advantage stated is that AgentCell, unlike other computer simulations involving biological systems, it is not limited to only the molecular, single- cell, or bacterial populations level, but can work on all three scales, a program that can’t be found in any other computer simulation. Thierry Emonet, one of the creators of AgentCell, claims that through this remarkable program, scientists and researchers can observe cells on how they live in their environment, stimulus response and how they interact in a three- dimensional environment. Emonet has also verified the accuracy of AgentCell, and when scientists use it on their experiments and tests a great deal of laboratory time can be saved. Other laboratory equipments that can be used for microscopy are other types of microscopes like a compound binocular microscope.
As many as its uses are, the main purpose of AgentCell is to document the connection between internal biochemical fluctuations and cellular behavior. Have a closer look at cellular behavior under a compound binocular microscope. Results of studies and documentations using AgentCell are believed to hold the answers as to why sometimes cells act as individuals and sometimes as a group.
Exactly how does AgentCell look like? Each digital cell is actually a virtual Escherichia coli. If you would like to view E. Coli under a microscope, you can use a compound binocular microscope.Why this type of bacteria? The single- celled E. Coli bacteria was chosen as the virtual cell since it is a type of bacteria which has virtually all the necessary components to search for food. These digital bacteria are complete, having also their own chemotaxis system, flagella for motion, and the motors to control their movement. AgentCell is not limited here though since its developers constructed it module by module so that other components may be added later on.
AgentCell have already produced some benefit’s in it’s own laboratory, Cluzel’s laboratory where it was developed. Emonet, during one of his simulations discovered a certain type of protein which controlled the sensitivity of E.Coli’s chemotaxis system which is used to help the bacteria find its food. For further observations, you can use a compound binocular microscope to have a closer look at E. Coli.
This article closes with an idea of one of the undesirable possibilities of conducting simulations on the AgentCell like preparing for a bioterrorism attack for example. Cluzel, an Assistant Professor in Physics leaves us with a thought about what would possibly happen if a pathogenic strain were mixed with a friendly strain? Which among the two would win and at what rate of speed?
