What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to uncover the relationships between the shape (morphology) of microswimmers and their movement functions using simulations.

June 4, 2026Open Access

Simulation-driven discovery of morphology-function relationships in microswimmers - supporting code and data

Key Points

This research aims to uncover the relationships between the shape (morphology) of microswimmers and their movement functions using simulations.
Utilized the nearest-neighbour regularised Stokeslet boundary element method for simulating hydrodynamics.
Provided source code for three case studies involving different types of microswimmers.
Included packages for simulation and visualization of results.
Results from beat-plane modulation in *Chlamydomonas reinhardtii* were successfully reproduced.
Demonstrated filter feeding through a ciliary band via simulations.
Showed evolutionary interpolation between biflagellate morphologies.

Abstract

This deposit contains the Julia source code accompanying the paper "Simulation-driven discovery of morphology-function relationships in microswimmers" by James F. Cass and Kirsty Y. Wan (Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK). The bundle provides a frozen snapshot of three packages: MicroSwimmers.jl, which implements the nearest-neighbour regularised Stokeslet boundary element method for simulating the hydrodynamics of microswimmers, MicroSwimmersPlots.jl for visualisation routines and finally BeatPlanes.jl, the companion package used to run the simulations in the paper. The code reproduces the three case studies presented: beat-plane modulation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, filter feeding through a ciliary band and an evolutionary interpolation between biflagellate morphologies. Reproducing the results. Please consult the accompanying README.md in the bundle. Citation. If you use this code, please cite the accompanying paper. A preprint is available on bioRxiv: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.01.729272

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