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Biological Models of Molecular Network Dynamics

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Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science

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Definition of the Subject

Understanding the operation cellular networks is probably one of the most challenging and intellectually exciting scientific fields today. With theavailability of new experimental and theoretical techniques our understanding of the operation of cellular networks has made great strides in the last fewdecades. An important outcome of this work is the development of predictive quantitative models. Such models of cellular function will havea profound impact on our ability of manipulate living systems which will lead to new opportunities for generating energy, mitigating our impact onthe biosphere and last but not least, opening up new approaches and understanding of important disease states such as cancer and aging.

Introduction

Cellular networks are some of the most complex natural systems we know. Even in a “simple” organism such as E. coli, there are at least four thousand genes with many thousands of interactions between molecules of many differentsizes [11]....

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Abbreviations

Deterministic continuous model:

A mathematical model where the variables of the model can take any real value and where the time evolution of the model is set by the initial conditions.

Stochastic discrete model:

A mathematical model where the variables of the model take on discrete values and where the time evolution of the model is described by a set of probability distributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

    Herbert M. Sauro

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  1. Herbert M. Sauro
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  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, 122 Escalle Lane, Larkspur, CA, 94939, USA

    Robert A. Meyers Ph. D. (Editor-in-Chief) (Editor-in-Chief)

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Sauro, H.M. (2009). Biological Models of Molecular Network Dynamics. In: Meyers, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30440-3_37

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