Biology by Numbers—Introducing Quantitation into Life Science Education 英文参考文献.docVIP

Open access, freely available online Community Page Biology by Numbers— Introducing Quantitation into Life Science Education Tinri Aegerter-Wilmsen,Ton Bisseling* D riven by the massive datasets that are generated by “omics” research, the molecular life sciences are entering a new phase. This phase is characterised by a shift in focus from individual genes and their products to networks and whole systems [1,2,3]. For a thorough analysis of the behaviour of networks and their underlying principles, quantitative tools are often necessary. Numerical simulations can, for example, be used to explore the behaviour of a network when the values of different parameters are varied, and, in turn, mathematical analysis can help to understand a particular biological phenomenon [2]. The successful application of DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030001.g001 Figure 1. A Simulation That Students Can Perform After several minutes, Dpp forms one peak in the centre of the dorsal region, as in the wild type. The various elements of the quantitative model can be entered under “protein conc. changes”, “initial localizations”, “values of constants”, and “initial concentrations”. The numerical simulation itself shows the dynamic behaviour of the designed quantitative model. quantitative tools in the molecular life sciences requires a good understanding of these tools and suf?cient knowledge of the biological system under study. This can be achieved by collaboration between quantitatively trained scientists such as physicists on the one hand and biologists on the other. However, cultural differences hamper such collaboration [1]: even at the undergraduate level, students in the different disciplines speak very different languages [4]. themselves, covering topics such as cell biology, developmental biology, and biochemistry. We consider this important because it will help to show students how quantitative tools can be used to address various cutting edge questions in biology. process. Therefo