A research on a formal method for analysing gene networks

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26730153
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Life / Health / Medical informatics
• Research Institution: National Fisheries University
• Principal Investigator: Ito Sohei 独立行政法人水産大学校, その他部局等, 助教 (50708005)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: システム生物学 / 形式手法 / 生物学的恒常性 / 選択的スプライシング / 遺伝子ネットワーク / 数理論理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a framework for analysing gene networks using temporal logic. In our method we model the possible behaviours of gene networks with logical formulae in qualitative way and check whether a network satisfies a given biological property. In this research, we regard gene networks as open systems which interact with environment. Then we mathematically formalised biological homeostasis which says that a system maintains its internal property against various changes of environment. We also extended our framework from a simple one gene one protein model to one gene many proteins model by devising a method to model alternative splicing mechanisms. As an analysis of real example, we analysed sex determination network of Drosophila melanogaster and verified that the network ensures sex determination.

Free Research Field

応用論理学、形式手法