A scenario-based approach to modeling development: A prototype model of C. elegans vulval fate specification

    Authors

    N. Kam; H. Kugler; R. Marelly; L. Appleby; J. Fisher; A. Pnueli; D. Harel; M. J. Stern;E. J. A. Hubbard

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Dev. Biol.

    Keywords

    Vulval fate specification; VPC; Modeling; Scenario-based; Live Sequence; Charts; C. elegans; PATTERN-FORMATION; INDUCTION; Developmental Biology

    Abstract

    Studies of developmental biology are often facilitated by diagram "models" that summarize the current understanding of underlying mechanisms. The increasing complexity of our understanding of development necessitates computational models that can extend these representations to include their dynamic behavior. Here we present a prototype model of Caenorhabditis elegans vulval precursor cell fate specification that represents many processes crucial for this developmental event but that are hard to integrate using other modeling methodologies. We demonstrate the integrative capabilities of our methodology by comprehensively incorporating the contents of three seminal papers, showing that this methodology can lead to comprehensive models of developmental biology. The prototype computational model was built and is run using a language (Live Sequence Charts) and tool (the Play-Engine) that facilitate the same conceptual processes biologists use to construct and probe diagram-type models. We demonstrate that this modeling approach permits rigorous tests of mutual consistency between experimental data and mechanistic hypotheses and can identify specific conflicting results, providing a useful approach to probe developmental systems. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Developmental Biology

    Volume

    323

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1

    Last Page

    5

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000260372200001

    ISSN

    0012-1606

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