Date of Award

1-1-2014

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Content Description

1 online resource (xiv, 165 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Melinda Larsen

Committee Members

Benjamin Szaro, Gregory Lnenicka, Bulent Yener

Keywords

Cell-graph, Cleft formation, Computational Modeling, GGH Model, LIM Kinase, Salivary Gland, Morphogenesis, Branching processes, Submandibular gland

Subject Categories

Cell Biology | Computer Sciences | Developmental Biology

Abstract

Branching morphogenesis is a conserved mechanism of mammalian organ development (salivary glands, lungs, mammary glands, pancreas, kidney, etc.), and has been a classic topic of study for generations of developmental biologists. During the process of tissue formation, several cellular and molecular and protein signaling events occur at successive stages enabling proper formation of tissue shape and structure. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the process of branching morphogenesis, we need a systems level approach to integrate multifactorial information. My overall global hypothesis is that multiple mathematical modeling approaches can be utilized to extract crucial cellular and tissue level information, generating biological hypotheses which can guide us towards unraveling mechanistic details of cleft formation.

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