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Applied Math Colloquium

Friday, September 20th, 2013, 11:30 AM
Cullimore Lecture Hall, Lecture Hall II
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Robust and Stochastic Dynamics in Signal Transduction, Stem Cells, and Development Patterning

Qing Nie

University of California, Irvine

Abstract

Noise and stochastic effect 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 dictates capability of attenuating temporal noise in feedback systems. In another case, I will show that noise in gene regulations actually enables reduction of stochastic effects in spatial patterns during embryonic development. Finally, novel experimental data that support our modeling and computational predictions will be presented and several multi-scale, stochastic, and computational modeling frameworks that are required for simulating such complex biological systems will be introduced.