EVENT DETAILS AND ABSTRACT

Title: Learning about the evolution of biochemical networks from topology, fluxes and perturbations
Speaker: Professor Daniel Segre'
Speaker Info: Boston University
Brief Description:
Special Note: More current information may be available at Plan-it Purple
Abstract:

We are interested in the evolutionary dynamics of biological networks, in particular in the interplay between response to genetic and environmental perturbations, genomic-level functional organization, and optimal adaptation. By implementing steady state (flux balance) models of whole-cell biochemical networks, and computing epistatic interactions resulting from double gene deletions, one can make new hypothesis about the organization of genes and pathways into hierarchical modules. To go beyond single organisms, and learn about metabolism at the ecosystem level, different approaches may be required. By relying on reaction topology and a network expansion algorithm it is possible to study the effect of key molecules (such as oxygen) on the evolution of life. For more information, see http://prelude.bu.edu .