In Vivo - In Silico: finding out how nature grows complex systems

Speaker: Ronan Sleep

16th March 2005 , 2.30pm , G21 & G22 Devonshire Building

Abstract

We routinely use massively powerful computer simulations and visualisations to design aeroplanes, build bridges and to predict weather. With computer power and biological knowledge increasing daily, perhaps we can apply advanced computer simulation techniques to realise computer embodiments of living systems. This is the thinking behind iViS (in Vivo -- in Silico), a 15 year+ grand challenge project which aims to realise fully detailed, accurate and predictive computer embodiments of plants, animals and unicellular organisms. Possible benefits of iViS include an understanding of regeneration processes in plants and animals, with potentially dramatic implications for disease and accident victims. iViS may also lead to revolutionary ways of realising complex systems: instead of designing and programming such systems in excruciating detail, perhaps we can just grow them from compact initial descriptions in a suitable medium. We know it's possible, because that's exactly what nature does when it grows a plant or animal from a single cell. During the talk I will introduce the challenge, show some of the things it needs to model, outline some current approaches, and talk about some of the early work we have done towards the challenge at UEA.