Senior Project Advisor
Nick Galati, Tilmann Glimm
Document Type
Project - Campus-only Access
Publication Date
Fall 2023
Keywords
mathematical modeling, cell biology, mathematical biology, calcium, cellular dynamics, primary cilium
Abstract
Calcium ions (Ca2+) are critical secondary messengers in cells. To better understand the dynamics of Ca2+ movement in cells, I took an approach of combining data collection in the lab and mathematical simulation. This work is built from an existing baseline model of an NIH3t3 cell, which uses the diffusion equation to model Ca2+ movement. I conducted Ca2+ clearance experiments to get data that can be used to estimate boundary conditions for the model (corresponding to Ca2+ fluxes through distinct cellular membranes). Determining boundary conditions from real data is essential to creating an accurate model, and this data had not been generated for NIH3t3 cells. Now that the data exists, the model can be calibrated and used as a baseline hypothesis for Ca2+ dynamics governed by simple diffusion alone.
Department
Biology
Recommended Citation
Lane, Katie, "The Diffusion Illusion: An interdisciplinary approach to modeling cellular calcium dynamics" (2023). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 761.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/761
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf