Towards a digital diatom: image processing and deep learning analysis ofBacillaria paradoxadynamic morphology

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a convergence of data and methods that allow us to approximate the shape, size, and functional attributes of biological organisms. This is not only limited to traditional model species: given the ability to culture and visualize a specific organism, we can capture both its structural and functional attributes. We present a quantitative model for the colonial diatom Bacillaria paradoxa, an organism that presents a number of unique attributes in terms of form and function. To acquire a digital model of B. paradoxa, we extract a series of quantitative parameters from microscopy videos from both primary and secondary sources. These data are then analyzed using a variety of techniques, including two rival deep learning approaches. We provide an overview of neural networks for non-specialists as well as present a series of analysis on Bacillaria phenotype data. The application of deep learning networks allow for two analytical purposes. Application of the DeepLabv3 pre-trained model extracts phenotypic parameters describing the shape of cells constituting Bacillaria colonies. Application of a semantic model trained on nematode embryogenesis data (OpenDevoCell) provides a means to analyze masked images of potential intracellular features. We also advance the analysis of Bacillaria colony movement dynamics by using templating techniques and biomechanical analysis to better understand the movement of individual cells relative to an entire colony. The broader implications of these results are presented, with an eye towards future applications to both hypothesis-driven studies and theoretical advancements in understanding the dynamic morphology of Bacillaria.

Embodied cognitive morphogenesis as a route to intelligent systems

“…In the 1970s, Grossberg [12] provided a mathematical overview of developmental processes as they related to emergent cognitive capacities. This serves as a combination of dynamical systems and psychophysical approaches, which even serves to describe the adaptive behaviours of non-neuronal systems [13,14]. Levin's TAME (technological approach to mind everywhere) paradigm [15] posits that collective embodied intelligence is shown to drive the behaviour of cell populations on a variety of substrates.…”

“…Aside from providing structural stability, this also leads to the need for a communication network and information processing. Using diatoms as an example, the concept of non-neuronal psychophysics (electronic supplementary material, SF1) [51] can be used to characterize this function [13]. As single-celled organisms that often live in colonies, diatoms can process information from simple environmental stimuli (light, chemical and physical forces).…”