Saturday, June 18, 2011

Automatically test Model Variations

The TryModelVariants.py is a new python plugin that tries all the different models for the same "diagram". For example, in the diagram below two enzymes catalyze the conversion to themselves, i.e. both are autocatalytic. One might suspect that such a system will become bistable, somewhat like the genetic toggle-swtich. However, this system is only bistable when modeled using steady state assumptions (i.e. Michaelis-Menten) and monostable when modeled using simple mass-action reactions. This python plugin can be used to varify such model-dependent behavior. This shows how models should be double-checked before trying to use them to make conclusions about the real system.

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