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| Stochastic Dynamics in Signal Transduction, Stem Cells, and Development
Qing Nie
Department of Mathematics
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Center for Mathematical and Computational Biology
Center for Complex Biological Systems
University of California, Irvine
Abstract. Noise and stochastic effects exist in most biological systems due to many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In this talk, I will discuss strategies and principles for noise attenuation and robustness to genetic and environmental perturbations in signal transduction, embryonic patterning, and regeneration driven by stem cells. In one case, I will introduce a critical quantity that succinctly captures the capability of attenuating temporal noise in feedback systems. In another case, I will show that noise actually can be beneficial through an example in which noise in gene regulation enables reduction of the overall stochastic effects during embryonic development. In addition to presenting experimental data that supports our predictions, I will introduce several multi-scale and stochastic models and new computational tools for simulating such complex biological systems. Lastly, the main mathematical challenges will be discussed for analysis of several modeling frameworks shown in this talk. |
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