scholarly journals Changes in students’ mental models from computational modeling of gene regulatory networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph T. Dauer ◽  
Heather E. Bergan-Roller ◽  
Gretchen P. King ◽  
McKenzie Kjose ◽  
Nicholas J. Galt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Conceptual Models ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Context Specific

Abstract Background Computational modeling is an increasingly common practice for disciplinary experts and therefore necessitates integration into science curricula. Computational models afford an opportunity for students to investigate the dynamics of biological systems, but there is significant gap in our knowledge of how these activities impact student knowledge of the structures, relationships, and dynamics of the system. We investigated how a computational modeling activity affected introductory biology students’ mental models of a prokaryotic gene regulatory system (lac operon) by analyzing conceptual models created before and after the activity. Results Students’ pre-lesson conceptual models consisted of provided, system-general structures (e.g., activator, repressor) connected with predominantly incorrect relationships, representing an incomplete mental model of gene regulation. Students’ post-lesson conceptual models included more context-specific structures (e.g., cAMP, lac repressor) and increased in total number of structures and relationships. Student conceptual models also included higher quality relationships among structures, indicating they learned about these context-specific structures through integration with their expanding mental model rather than in isolation. Conclusions Student mental models meshed structures in a manner indicative of knowledge accretion while they were productively re-constructing their understanding of gene regulation. Conceptual models can inform instructors about how students are relating system structures and whether students are developing more sophisticated models of system-general and system-specific dynamics.

Computing Possible Futures

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Interactive Visualizations ◽  
Use Of Models ◽  
Better Than

This book discusses the use of models and interactive visualizations to explore designs of systems and policies in determining whether such designs would be effective. Executives and senior managers are very interested in what “data analytics” can do for them and, quite recently, what the prospects are for artificial intelligence and machine learning. They want to understand and then invest wisely. They are reasonably skeptical, having experienced overselling and under-delivery. They ask about reasonable and realistic expectations. Their concern is with the futurity of decisions they are currently entertaining. They cannot fully address this concern empirically. Thus, they need some way to make predictions. The problem is that one rarely can predict exactly what will happen, only what might happen. To overcome this limitation, executives can be provided predictions of possible futures and the conditions under which each scenario is likely to emerge. Models can help them to understand these possible futures. Most executives find such candor refreshing, perhaps even liberating. Their job becomes one of imagining and designing a portfolio of possible futures, assisted by interactive computational models. Understanding and managing uncertainty is central to their job. Indeed, doing this better than competitors is a hallmark of success. This book is intended to help them understand what fundamentally needs to be done, why it needs to be done, and how to do it. The hope is that readers will discuss this book and develop a “shared mental model” of computational modeling in the process, which will greatly enhance their chances of success.

scholarly journals A practical guide to mechanistic systems modeling in biology using a logic-based approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Niarakis ◽  
Tomáš Helikar
Keyword(s):  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Mechanistic Modeling ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Validation Criteria ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Logical Modeling

Abstract Mechanistic computational models enable the study of regulatory mechanisms implicated in various biological processes. These models provide a means to analyze the dynamics of the systems they describe, and to study and interrogate their properties, and provide insights about the emerging behavior of the system in the presence of single or combined perturbations. Aimed at those who are new to computational modeling, we present here a practical hands-on protocol breaking down the process of mechanistic modeling of biological systems in a succession of precise steps. The protocol provides a framework that includes defining the model scope, choosing validation criteria, selecting the appropriate modeling approach, constructing a model and simulating the model. To ensure broad accessibility of the protocol, we use a logical modeling framework, which presents a lower mathematical barrier of entry, and two easy-to-use and popular modeling software tools: Cell Collective and GINsim. The complete modeling workflow is applied to a well-studied and familiar biological process—the lac operon regulatory system. The protocol can be completed by users with little to no prior computational modeling experience approximately within 3 h.

scholarly journals Identification of context-specific gene regulatory networks with GEMULA—gene expression modeling using LAsso

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Geeven ◽  
Ronald E. van Kesteren ◽  
August B. Smit ◽  
Mathisca C. M. de Gunst
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gene Regulatory Networks ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Context Specific

scholarly journals Assigning function to natural allelic variation via dynamic modeling of gene network induction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magali Richard ◽  
Florent Chuffart ◽  
Hélène Duplus-Bottin ◽  
Fanny Pouyet ◽  
Martin Spichty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulatory Networks ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Allelic Variation ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Response Network ◽  
Dna Variants ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Regulatory Models

ABSTRACTMore and more natural DNA variants are being linked to physiological traits. Yet, understanding what differences they make on molecular regulations remains challenging. Important properties of gene regulatory networks can be captured by computational models. If model parameters can be ‘personalized’ according to the genotype, their variation may then reveal how DNA variants operate in the network. Here, we combined experiments and computations to visualize natural alleles of the yeast GAL3 gene in a space of model parameters describing the galactose response network. Alleles altering the activation of Gal3p by galactose were discriminated from those affecting its activity (production/degradation or efficiency of the activated protein). The approach allowed us to correctly predict that a non-synonymous SNP would change the binding affinity of Gal3p with the Gal80p transcriptional repressor. Our results illustrate how personalizing gene regulatory models can be used for the mechanistic interpretation of genetic variants.

scholarly journals Accurate differential analysis of transcription factor activity from gene expression

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Amin ◽  
Murat Can Cobanoglu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Gene Regulatory Networks ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Expression Data ◽  
Differential Analysis ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Tf Gene ◽  
Perturbation Estimation

AbstractWe present EPEE (Effector and Perturbation Estimation Engine), a method for differential analysis of transcription factor (TF) activity from gene expression data. EPEE addresses two principal challenges in the field, namely incorporating context-specific TF-gene regulatory networks, and accounting for the fact that TF activity inference is intrinsically coupled for all TFs that share targets. Our validations in well-studied immune and cancer contexts show that addressing the overlap challenge and using state-of-the-art regulatory networks enable EPEE to consistently produce accurate results. (Accessible at: https://github.com/Cobanoglu-Lab/EPEE)

Condensing Biochemistry into Gene Regulatory Networks

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Alberto de la Fuente
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Gene Regulatory Networks ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Networks ◽  
Modern Biology ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Biochemical Systems ◽  
Gene Regulatory

Gene Regulatory Networks are models of gene regulation. Inferring such model from genome-wide gene-expression measurements is one of the key challenges in modern biology, and a large number of algorithms have been proposed for this task. As there is still much confusion in the current literature as to what precisely Gene Regulatory Networks are, it is important to provide a definition that is as unambiguous as possible. In this paper the author provides such a definition and explain what Gene Regulatory Networks are in terms of the underlying biochemical processes. The author will use a linear approximation to the in general non-linear kinetics underlying interactions in biochemical systems and show how a biochemical system can be ‘condensed' into a more compact description, i.e. Gene Regulatory Networks. Important differences between the defined Gene Regulatory Networks and other network models for gene regulation, i.e. Transcriptional Regulatory Networks and Co-Expression Networks, are also discussed.

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