Abstract

For discrete-event architectures, modeling the cell cycle

Author(s): Kritika Sharma

The Computational modelling and the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems enable researchers to not only describe but also explain the events of the cell cycle, just like the theory of gravitation enables researchers to understand why cannonballs fly in parabolic arcs. The simplest forms of the eukaryotic cell cycle function as self-contained oscillators. The basic notion of oscillatory biochemical circuits is presented in this paper in the context of the Xenopus embryonic cell cycle. Boolean models, delay differential equation models, and, in particular, ordinary differential equation (ODE) models are investigated. We look at what it takes to produce oscillations out of two simple types of circuits using ODE models (negative feedback loops and coupled positive and negative feedback loops).