Agent-based Modelling in Multicellular Systems Biology

Sara Montagna, Andrea Omicini

This chapter aims at discussing the content of multi-agent based simulation (MABS) applied to computational biology, i.e, to modelling and simulating biological systems by means of computational models, methodologies, and frameworks. In particular, the adoption of agent- based modelling (ABM) in the field of multicellular systems biology is explored, focussing on the challenging scenarios of developmental biology. After motivating why agent-based abstractions are critical in representing multicellular systems behaviour, MABS is discussed as the source of the most natural and appropriate mechanism for analysing the self-organising behaviour of systems of cells. As a case study, an application of MABS to the development of Drosophila Melanogaster is finally presented, which exploits the ALCHEMIST agent-based simulation platform.

Multi-Agent Based Simulations Applied to Biological and Environmental Systems, Ch. 7, Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics (ACIR), pages 159-178, February 2017.
Diana Francisca Adamatti (eds.), IGI Global

@incollection{abminmsb-mabsbioenvbook2017,
	Author = {Montagna, Sara and Omicini, Andrea},
	Booktitle = {Multi-Agent Based Simulations Applied to Biological and Environmental Systems},
	Doi = {10.4018/978-1-5225-1756-6.ch007},
	Editor = {Adamatti, Diana Francisca},
	Isbn = {978-1-5225-1756-6},
	Isbn-10 = {1-5225-1756-1},
	Isbn-Online = {978-1-5225-1757-3},
	Issn = {2327-0411},
	Issn-Online = {2327-042X},
	Month = feb,
	Pages = {159--178},
	Publisher = {IGI Global},
	ScopusId = {2-s2.0-85018569036},
	Series = {Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics (ACIR)},
	Title = {Agent-based Modelling in Multicellular Systems Biology},
	Url = {http://www.igi-global.com/chapter/agent-based-modelling-in-multicellular-systems-biology/173217},
	Year = 2017}