BMCB625:Mathematics in Biology

Overview of Topic

1.) Take Home Message (Big Picture / Themes):

1.) Common Languages for Quantitative Biology

2.) Probability in Gene Expression

• Primer: Language of Biology

Can we develop a common language? Is it mathematics? Should it be? In what cases?

• Classic Biological Underpinning by Mathematical (Statistical) Arguments

Luria-Delbrück Fluctuation Analysis

• Static Picture of Dynamic Pathways

The Lac Operon as a Model of Multistability and Stochastic Events

2.) Important Experimental Details

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Papers

Outline of Talk and Discussion

1. Introduction: Perspectives between disciplines and establishing common languages
2. "Classic Paper" (as reference): Luria and Delbruck Fluctuation Test, trends via statistical arguements
3. "Main Paper" : Lactose Utilization as a model for Bistability
4. Discussion

PAPERS:

• MAIN PAPER: "Multistability in the lactose utilization network of Escherichia coli"

EM Ozbudak, et al, Nature 427, 737-740 (19 February 2004) [[1]]

• CLASSIC: "Mutations of Bacteria from Virus Sensitivity to Virus Resistance"

S. E. Luria and M. Delbrück, Genetics. 1943 November; 28(6): 491–511 [[2]]

• See Below: "Biologists Fixing Radios"

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Chris - Bonus Materials

Ranking:

• Critical Read/of Outstanding Interest (oo)
• Importand Read (o)
• Of Interest (no label)

1. (o) A good primer on how biologists and engineers look at a problem in different ways; while many comments do not address the complexity of biochemistry and genetics, it does provide an interesting perspective on what we consider "important." Also, of importance, in my opinion, is developing a common language by which numerous disciplines can communicate. I'll touch more on this particular topic during my talk.

Y. Lazebnik, "Can a Biologist Fix a Radio? or, What I Learned while Studying Apoptosis" [[3]]

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Unresolved Questions for Followup

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(Homework) Questions

Mahta

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Larry

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Chayne

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Jon

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Jeremy

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Faculty Questions and Comments