MECHANICAL MODELS OF CELL STRUCTURES AND THE LATEST PROGRESS OF SIMULATIONS

This paper deals primarily with mechanical models of cellstructures, including cytoskeleton such as visco-elastic solid model,continuum/elastic cortex surrounding viscous liquid model, andtensegrity model, up to more than 10 types. Advanteges anddisadvanteges of these models as well as the current situation of computersimulations are discussed. Further, the features of a more reasonable model of cellstructure for future have been suggested. Also, the latest experimentalmeans and images merging technique that are closely related to thistopic are briefly metioned because cell theoretical modelsand computational simulations should be based on experimental observations in si tu.