Cell Model - Picture Gallery
Cell Model - Visualization Picture Gallery
The Cell Model was designed and implemented using Rational Rose RealTime (RRT).
RRT generates code, and compiles and links the model. The resulting executable runs and generates a VRML file called root.wrl. It sets up a socket connection to a Java program running inside a web browser such as Netscape. Netscape also loads a VRML browser such as Cosmo Player from Silicon Graphics. The VRML browser loads root.wrl. The Java program passes information back and forth between the VRML browser and the executing RRT model.
The same executing RRT model can be simultaneoiusly observed by any number of observer processes. Some of these processes display a 2D representation of some aspect of the running cell model.
Silicon Graphics is only one of many organizations that support the VRML standard. Parallel Graphics in Russia produces a VRML browser called Cortona that runs within Netscape and Internet Explorer.
With any VRML browser you can zoom in and out of the model, and move and rotate it to view objects from different directions.
You can also select to view a VRML model as a simple wireframe without surfaces or textures.
This view of two cells includes about 70 or 80 Mitochondrions inside each cell. The actual number should be about 700.
Parallel Graphics also provides a screen saver that will use any VRML file, in this case the Cell Model produced by the RRT executable.
You can optionally ask for a control panel for the screen saver. With this feature you can explore the VRML image using rotations, zoom, and movement.
GnuPlot Graph
GLView - ~200 Erythrocytes and one Mucosal Cell
Nervous System - Spinal Cord
Nervous System - Neurons in Spinal Cord
Nervous System - Brain with a Collection of Neurons
Access Database used to Configure Cell Model
Ac3d is one of many freeware and other programs that allow you to create canned images that can become part of a VRML scene at run time.