Macroscopic current generated by local division and apoptosis in a minimal model of tissue dynamics

Abstract

We consider a minimal computational model of tissue dynamics with two active ingredients: local particle division and apoptosis. We neglect other non-equilibrium effects such as self-propulsion. We simulated the steady state dynamics inside an asymmetric channel and we found a net macroscopic current along the channel. Although such macroscopic current in a similar geometry has been detected in swimming bacteria, our results showed that local division and apoptosis are sufficient to generate a macroscopic current, without any need for a self-propulsion/swimming mechanism. Our results might have applications in tissue engineering such as controlling tissue growth via a geometrically non-uniform substrate.