Modeling complexity in biology

Yoram Louzoun, Sorin Solomon, Henri Atlan and Irun.R. Cohen

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2001, vol. 297, issue 1, 242-252

Abstract: Biological systems, unlike physical or chemical systems, are characterized by the very inhomogeneous distribution of their components. The immune system, in particular, is notable for self-organizing its structure. Classically, the dynamics of natural systems have been described using differential equations. But, differential equation models fail to account for the emergence of large-scale inhomogeneities and for the influence of inhomogeneity on the overall dynamics of biological systems. Here, we show that a microscopic simulation methodology enables us to model the emergence of large-scale objects and to extend the scope of mathematical modeling in biology. We take a simple example from immunology and illustrate that the methods of classical differential equations and microscopic simulation generate contradictory results. Microscopic simulations generate a more faithful approximation of the reality of the immune system.

Keywords: ODE; Inhomogeneity; Germinal centers; Emergence; Microscopic simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:297:y:2001:i:1:p:242-252

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(01)00201-1

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