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SUMMARY:Executable Strategies for Cellular Decision Making - Jasmin Fisher
  (Microsoft Research Europe)
DTSTART:20101103T140000Z
DTEND:20101103T150000Z
UID:TALK27394@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Danielle Stretch
DESCRIPTION:As time goes by\, it becomes more and more apparent that the p
 uzzles of life involve more and more molecular pieces that fit together in
  increasingly complex ways. We know that Biology is not an exact science. 
 It is messy and noisy\, and most often vague and ambiguous\; posing great 
 difficulties to establish mathematical and computational methods for its a
 nalysis. To make matters worse (so to speak)\, the combinatorial complexit
 y observed in biological networks (e.g.\, metabolic and signalling pathway
 s) is staggering\, which renders the comprehension and analysis of such sy
 stems a major challenge. Recent efforts to create executable models of com
 plex biological phenomena entail great promise for new scientific discover
 ies\, shading new light on the puzzle of life. We distinguish between two 
 types of biological models -mathematical and computational- which differ i
 n their representations of biological phenomena. We call the approach of c
 onstructing computational models of biological systems Executable Biology\
 , as it focuses on the design of executable computer algorithms that mimic
  biological phenomena. In this talk\, I will survey the main modelling eff
 orts in this direction (e.g.\, Boolean networks\, process calculi\, Petri 
 nets\, interacting state-machines)\, emphasize the applicability and benef
 its of executable models in biological research\, mainly through models of
  cell fate determination processes governed by cancer-related signalling p
 athways (e.g.\, EGFR\, Notch\, Wnt)\, and highlight some of the main chall
 enges that executable biology poses for Biology\, medical research\, and C
 omputer Science.
LOCATION:MR4\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Wilberforce Road\, Cambr
 idge
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