Analysis of a Proposed Genetic Toggle Switch
Research Project Abstract
The composition of simple genetic regulatory elements facilitates the control of gene expression levels in biological systems. The study of these mechanisms yields crucial insight into the implementation details of cell-fate decision processes. Here we present an analysis of a two dimensional, highly nonlinear model of a proposed genetic toggle switch presented in [1]. This analysis includes quantitative applications of linear stability analysis and bifurcation analysis to elucidate the critical properties of the system. A qualitative explanation of the underlying factors that determine these critical properties is included as well. We find that the model yields the desired properties of a genetic toggle switch, notably bistability characterized by a separatrix isolating two basins of attractions containing the high and low states of the switch. Only if a number of requirements are met does this model manifest these properties.
Analysis of a Proposed Genetic Toggle Switch
Weyerhaueser 303
The composition of simple genetic regulatory elements facilitates the control of gene expression levels in biological systems. The study of these mechanisms yields crucial insight into the implementation details of cell-fate decision processes. Here we present an analysis of a two dimensional, highly nonlinear model of a proposed genetic toggle switch presented in [1]. This analysis includes quantitative applications of linear stability analysis and bifurcation analysis to elucidate the critical properties of the system. A qualitative explanation of the underlying factors that determine these critical properties is included as well. We find that the model yields the desired properties of a genetic toggle switch, notably bistability characterized by a separatrix isolating two basins of attractions containing the high and low states of the switch. Only if a number of requirements are met does this model manifest these properties.
