Agent-based model in biology

An agent-based model in biology is like playing with dolls or action figures. Instead of dolls, we use simple computer programs that act like little creatures called agents. Each agent has its own rules that tell it what to do and how to interact with other agents and the environment around them.

These agents can represent anything from cells to organisms in biological systems. By simulating their behavior we can learn how different factors affect the system as a whole, such as disease spread or ecological patterns.

The environment in which these agents live can have different properties like temperature, moisture, or food availability. These properties can vary from region to region or change over time. The agents have to adapt their behavior according to these changes and interact with each other to survive.

Agent-based models allow scientists to create virtual experiments to test hypotheses about complex biological systems. By playing with these virtual dolls, we can learn how different factors influence the behavior of individual agents and can predict how these systems may respond in the future.