A minimal, mechanically consistent model of dividing cells
Most reductionist particle-based models of growing tissue treat cell division as an abrupt event: When a cell splits into two, the forces jump discontinuously, seeding artifacts and unphysical mechanical stresses in the simulation. The key feature of our minimal model of smoothly dividing disk-shaped cells is force continuity through division — the mechanics stay smooth and consistent as a cell divides, largely eliminating these artifacts. This yields a well-controlled baseline for particle-resolved studies of proliferating matter and cleaner insight into how mechanical interactions and the division process shape colony morphology.
Congratulations to shared first authors Lukas and Yoav, and to everyone involved — a nice, foundational contribution!