Related papers: Comparative approaches to understanding thyroid ho…
The "developmental hourglass" describes a pattern of increasing morphological divergence towards earlier and later embryonic development, separated by a period of significant conservation across distant species (the "phylotypic stage").…
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF$\beta$) plays a central role in morphogenesis, growth, and cell differentiation. This cytokine is particularly important in cartilage where it regulates cell proliferation and extracellular matrix…
The hierarchical organisation of cell identity is a fundamental feature of animal development with rich and well-characterized experimental phenomenology, yet the mechanisms driving its emergence remain unknown. The regulation of cell…
This paper presents a four-unit, four-component mathematical model of iodine metabolism and its impact on thyroid hormone levels in the body. We focus on the relationships between iodine (I-), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and…
Adult neurogenesis has long been documented in the vertebrate brain, and recently even in humans. Although it has been conjectured for many years that its functional role is related to the renewing of memories, no clear mechanism as to how…
Self-regulatory models are common in nature, as described e.g. in (\cite{mur}), (\cite{ha}) and (\cite{Gb}).\\ Let us consider a system made up of a number of glands as a motivation. Each gland secretes a hormone that allows secretion in…
The significant role of dendritic processing within neuronal networks has become increasingly clear. This letter explores the effects of including a simple dendrite-inspired mechanism into neuroevolution. The phenomenon of separate dendrite…
"Epigenetic Tracking" is an evo-devo method to generate arbitrary 2d or 3d shapes; as such, it belongs to the field of "artificial embryology". In silico experiments have proved the effectiveness of the method in devo-evolving shapes of any…
The thyroid gland, in conjunction with the pituitary and the hypothalamus, forms a regulated system due to their mutual influence through released hormones. The equilibrium point of this system, commonly referred to as the "set point", is…
For long it has been known that specific patterns of folding are necessary for an optimally functioning brain. For instance, lissencephaly and polymicrogyria can lead to severe mental retardation, short life expectancy, epileptic seizures,…
Genetic Regulatory Networks (GRNs) plays a vital role in the understanding of complex biological processes. Modeling GRNs is significantly important in order to reveal fundamental cellular processes, examine gene functions and understanding…
Rhizomes play fundamental roles in plant evolution, persistence, and environmental adaptation by enabling clonal propagation, resource storage, and stress resilience. Despite their ecological and agronomic importance across diverse plant…
A normally functioning menstrual cycle requires significant crosstalk between hormones originating in ovarian and brain tissues. Reproductive hormone dysregulation may cause abnormal function and sometimes infertility. The inherent…
Sex chromosomes have evolved repeatedly across the Tree of Life, yet their evolutionary fates differ strikingly. In sharp contrast to mammals and birds with degenerated, stable Y/W chromosomes, in most amphibians, teleosts, non avian…
Experimental results in recent years have shown that adult neurogenesis is a significant phenomenon in the mammalian brain. Little is known, however, about the functional role played by the generation and destruction of neurons in the…
Morphogenesis in the central nervous system has received intensive attention as elucidating fundamental mechanisms of morphogenesis will shed light on the physiology and pathophysiology of the developing central nervous system.…
Simultaneously evolving morphologies (bodies) and controllers (brains) of robots can cause a mismatch between the inherited body and brain in the offspring. To mitigate this problem, the addition of an infant learning period by the…
There is much concern about disruption of endocrine physiology regulated by steroid hormones in humans, other terrestrial vertebrates and fish by industrial chemicals, such as bisphenol A, and pesticides, such as DDT. These…
Evolution and development operate at different timescales; generations for the one, a lifetime for the other. These two processes, the basis of much of life on earth, interact in many non-trivial ways, but their temporal hierarchy --…
This paper deals with a model of cellular growth called "Epigenetic Tracking", whose key features are: i) distinction bewteen "normal" and "driver" cells; ii) presence in driver cells of an epigenetic memory, that holds the position of the…