Stochastic Process Algebra Models of a Circadian Clock

We present stochastic process algebra models of a Circadian clock mechanism used in many biological organisms to regulate time-based behaviour. We compare modelling techniques from different modelling paradigms, PEPA and stochastic $pi$-calculus

06161 Abstracts Collection -- Simulation and Verification of Dynamic Systems

From 17.04.06 to 22.04.06, the Dagstuhl Seminar 06161 ``Simulation and Verification of Dynamic Systems\u27\u27 was held in the International Conference and Research Center (IBFI), Schloss Dagstuhl. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas are put together in this paper. The first section describes the seminar topics and goals in general. Links to extended abstracts or full papers are provided, if available

Modelling Biological Rhythms

SummaryWith our growing awareness of the complexity underlying biological phenomena, our need for computational models becomes increasingly apparent. Due to their properties, biological clocks have always lent themselves to computational modelling. Their capacity to oscillate without dampening — even when deprived of all rhythmic environmental information — required the hypothesis of an endogenous oscillator. The notion of a ‘clock’ provided a conceptual model of this system well before the dynamics of circadian oscillators were probed by computational modelling. With growing insight into the molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity, computational models became more concrete and quantitative. Here, we review the history of modelling circadian oscillators and establish a taxonomy of the modelling world to put the large body of circadian modelling literature into context. Finally, we assess the predictive power of circadian modelling and its success in creating new hypotheses