Disset, Jean, Cussat-Blanc, Sylvain and Duthen, Yves (2014) Self-organization of Symbiotic Multicellular Structures. In: the Fourteenth International Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems - ALIFE 2014, 30 July 2014 - 2 August 2014, New York, United States.

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Abstract

This paper presents a new model for the development of artificial creatures from a single cell. The model aims at providing a more biologically plausible abstraction of the morphogenesis and the specialization process, which the organogenesis follows. It is built upon three main elements: a cellular physics system that simulates division and intercellular adhesion dynamics, a simplified cell cycle offering to the cells the possibility to select actions such as division, quiescence, differentiation or apoptosis and, finally, a cell specialization mechanism quantifying the ability to perform different functions. An evolved artificial gene regulatory network is employed as a cell controller. As a proof-of-concept, we present two experiments where the morphology of a multicellular organism is guided by cell weaknesses and efficiency at performing different functions under environmental stress.