The incorporation of epigenetics in artificial gene regulatory networks

TY - JOUR

T1 - The incorporation of epigenetics in artificial gene regulatory networks

AU - Turner, Alexander P

AU - Lones, Michael A

AU - Fuente, Luis A

AU - Stepney, Susan

AU - Caves, Leo S D

AU - Tyrrell, Andy M

N1 - © 2013, Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

PY - 2013/5

Y1 - 2013/5

N2 - Artificial gene regulatory networks are computational models that draw inspiration from biological networks of gene regulation. Since their inception they have been used to infer knowledge about gene regulation and as methods of computation. These computational models have been shown to possess properties typically found in the biological world, such as robustness and self organisation. Recently, it has become apparent that epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in gene regulation. This paper describes a new model, the Artificial Epigenetic Regulatory Network (AERN) which builds upon existing models by adding an epigenetic control layer. Our results demonstrate that AERNs are more adept at controlling multiple opposing trajectories when applied to a chaos control task within a conservative dynamical system, suggesting that AERNs are an interesting area for further investigation.

AB - Artificial gene regulatory networks are computational models that draw inspiration from biological networks of gene regulation. Since their inception they have been used to infer knowledge about gene regulation and as methods of computation. These computational models have been shown to possess properties typically found in the biological world, such as robustness and self organisation. Recently, it has become apparent that epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in gene regulation. This paper describes a new model, the Artificial Epigenetic Regulatory Network (AERN) which builds upon existing models by adding an epigenetic control layer. Our results demonstrate that AERNs are more adept at controlling multiple opposing trajectories when applied to a chaos control task within a conservative dynamical system, suggesting that AERNs are an interesting area for further investigation.

KW - Computational Biology

KW - Computer Simulation

KW - Epigenesis, Genetic

KW - Epigenomics

KW - Gene Regulatory Networks

KW - Models, Genetic

KW - Reproducibility of Results

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875019824&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.03.013

DO - 10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.03.013

M3 - Article

C2 - 23499812

SN - 0303-2647

VL - 112

SP - 56

EP - 62

JO - Biosystems

JF - Biosystems

IS - 2

ER -