Physical approaches to the dynamics of genetic circuits: a tutorial

• Published in: Contemporary physics Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 439 - 464
• Main Author: Garcia-Ojalvo, Jordi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis 01.09.2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Biophysics; Cells; Cellular; Circuits; Dynamical systems; excitability; Fluctuation; gene regulatory circuits; Genes; genetic noise; genetic oscillations; Genetics; multicellular dynamics; Nonlinear dynamics; Nonlinearity; Theoretical physics
• ISSN: 0010-7514; 1366-5812
• DOI: 10.1080/00107514.2011.588432

Cellular behaviour is governed by gene regulatory processes that are intrinsically dynamic and nonlinear, and are subject to non-negligible amounts of random fluctuations. Such conditions are ubiquitous in physical systems, where they have been studied for decades using the tools of statistical and nonlinear physics. The goal of this introductory tutorial is to show how approaches traditionally used in physics can help in reaching a systems-level understanding of living cells. To that end, we present an overview of the dynamical phenomena exhibited by genetic circuits and their functional significance. We also describe the theoretical and experimental approaches that are being used to unravel the relationship between circuit structure and function in dynamical cellular processes under the influence ofnoise. Studies are discussed both at the single-cell level and in cellular populations, where intercellular coupling plays an important role.