Theory of Complex Bio-Systems

Course with Participations of Group Members

Offers for Theses in the Group

Growing shapes: Kinetics of integrating cell wall material into the envelope of a growing cell

The aim of this Master thesis is to explore different modes of cell wall growth, which is locally controlled by enzymes but has a global effect on the shape of the cell. Which schemes of enzymatic action permit stably growing cell shapes? And which ones can mimick the observed growth behavior of different bacterial species? These fundamental questions are surpisingly largely open, partially due to the difficulty of experimentally determining which local properties of the cell wall affect the enzymatic activity. In light of this experimental barrier, conceptual theoretical models can classify different plausible schemes by their large-scale behavior, which is more easily observed experimentally. This thesis will combine simulations of stochastic models for growing shapes with simple analytical toy models to address some of the open questions.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Supervisor: Ulrich Gerland

Interplay of mechanics and information processing in cell tissues

A common theme in developmental biology and useful feature for synthetic systems is the coupling of patterning processes (cell differentiation) with mechanical processes and cell growth and death. Understanding the interplay of these different processes is crucial to be able to explain development, as well as to manipulate pattern formation processes in  synthetic systems. In this thesis, a well-known model of tissue dynamics will be implemented and coupled to intercellular signaling dynamics in order to answer questions about the stability and robustness of the pattern creation process and the role of initial and boundary conditions. Of particular interest will be the study of feedbacks between the ‘mechanics’ and the ‘information processing’ in these systems.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Biophysics
• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics
• Master’s Thesis Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Supervisor: Ulrich Gerland

Current and Finished Theses in the Group