Computational modelling of nonlinear calcium waves

The calcium transport in biological systems is modelled as a reaction–diffusion process. Nonlinear calcium waves are then simulated using a stochastic cellular automaton whose rules are derived from the corresponding coupled partial differential equations. Numerical simulations show self-organized criticality in the complex calcium waves and patterns. Both the stochastic cellular automaton approach and the equation-based simulations can predict the characteristics of calcium waves and complex pattern formation. The implication of locality of calcium distribution with positional information in biological systems is also discussed.