Waddington Landscape of Cell Differentiation

Open Waddington Landscape of Cell Differentiation Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

Chapter 12: Post-Transcriptional Regulation and Cell Identity

Library: p5.js (WEBGL mode)

Type: Interactive 3D visualization sim-id: waddington-landscape
Library: p5.js (WEBGL mode)
Status: Specified

A 3D visualization of Waddington's epigenetic landscape. The surface is rendered as a mesh with valleys and ridges. A ball (representing a cell) starts at the top of the landscape in the "stem cell" position. The user can click a "Differentiate" button to release the ball, which rolls down the landscape and randomly enters one of several valleys representing different cell fates (neuron, muscle, blood, skin). Each valley is labeled and color-coded. A "Reset" button returns the ball to the top. A slider controls the depth of the valleys (representing the stability of cell fates). A "Reprogram" button lifts the ball back up the landscape, illustrating cellular reprogramming. The landscape rotates slowly for a 3D effect, and the user can drag to rotate manually.