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SUMMARY:Implementation of analog arithmetic division for control of reserv
 e utilization in plants - Martin Howard\, JIC
DTSTART:20121018T120000Z
DTEND:20121018T130000Z
UID:TALK39032@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jill Harrison
DESCRIPTION:Starch reserves that accumulate in Arabidopsis leaves during t
 he day decrease linearly with time at night to support metabolism and grow
 th. The rate of decrease is adjusted to accommodate variation in the time 
 of darkness and the level of starch\, such that reserves last almost preci
 sely until dawn. Starch levels are thus effectively arithmetically divided
  by the time to dawn to compute the appropriate starch degradation rate. T
 o generate hypotheses about how this computation is achieved\, we introduc
 e two novel chemical kinetic models capable of implementing analog arithme
 tic division. We validate and distinguish between these models by experime
 nts that permit investigation of the behavior of the starch degradation ra
 te around the expected time of dawn. Our results are potentially relevant 
 for any biological system dependent on a stored reserve for survival over 
 a predictable period of time.  
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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