Developing An Integrative Framework to Understand Calcium-Related Diseases Through Genetic Networks

Systems biology has exploded in a short period of time. The field has emerged from the identification of a single gene and isolated interactions to the classification of 1,000's of genes within networks. Mathematical modeling has been critical in this emergence and in development of a conceptual framework to study these dynamical complex hierarchical interactions. Through the interplay of models, experimental data, and biological knowledge this work seeks to understand the mechanistic processes that occur between genes within a network. We focus on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and combination of genes that are sensitive to calcium. The benefits of this study could ultimately shed light on such future developments such as heart medicines, osteoporisis, teeth and bone development, and other, calcium-related diseases.

Co-Authors: Pam Marshall & Stephen Wirkus, Arizona State University