The Logic of Computation in Biological Regulatory Networks

Abstract

Our goal in this project was to study, formalize and model biological regulatory processes and explore potential computational paradigms that are inspired by those new abstractions. We focused on developing appropriate level models for gene regulation, intercellular signaling and signal transduction mechanisms using the vast amount of information on the development and the behavior of organisms. In conjunction, to the efforts to better understand biological systems we focused on abstracting and extracting novel ideas from biology that can improve the state of the art in information systems. We combine expertise in an intensively studied developmental model system, Caenorhabditis Elegans (C. Elegans) vulval induction and in the study of the computational and structural capabilities and limitations in Boolean and threshold logic circuits as well as in parallel and distributed systems. Our hierarchical approach to modeling starts with models that address the kinetic and circuit level representations and follows with abstract functional system models like finite state automata and asynchronous feedback circuits.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 29, 2002
Accession Number
ADA405499

Entities

People

  • Jehoshua Bruck
  • Paul W. Sternberg

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animal Structures
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Chemistry
  • Circuits
  • Computational Science
  • Embryos
  • Engineering
  • Fat Cells
  • Information Systems
  • Logic
  • Logic Gates
  • Molecular Biology
  • Networks
  • Probability
  • Systems Biology

Readers

  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Computer Engineering