Research Area 3: Mathematics - 3.3 Biomathematics
Abstract
Biological systems constantly sense stimuli from the environment, process and convey this information robustly over large length and time scales, and adapt efficiently to changing conditions. The fidelity of information processing by biochemical networks, which is crucial to the survival and well being of the organism, is surprising given that it occurs in conditions in which the influence of random thermal fluctuations is very high. Uncovering the mechanisms used by cells to ensure this robust information processing and organization remains a crucial problem in systems biology and biophysics. While, it has been recently established that biological systems need to dissipate energy in order to achieve control, key issues concerning the thermodynamics of the resultant system remain to be characterized. The tools we currently have to achieve this are very limited. A thermodynamic description of control processes in biology will elucidate how single molecule level processes result in emergent organization at the cellular level. Such a description is essential for the construction of multi-scale quantitative and predictive models of biological processes. The PI proposes to develop and use mathematical techniques based on large-deviation theories to study the thermodynamics of information processing and organization in biology. This project will involve several different aspects: (1) A thermodynamic framework will be developed to understand how biological systems process and respond to information. The framework will be based on a combination of ideas from large deviation theory and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. (2) A novel dynamical phase transition - motivated by the physics of topological transitions - will be explored that can allow a biological system to perform its function in a robust manner. (3) The principles of spatiotemporal organization that are driven by dissipative processes, in which the usual thermodynamic descriptions no longer apply, will be studied.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610415
Entities
People
- Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Chicago