Speaker: Hava Siegelmann
Title: Genetic Networks: From Computational Complexity to System Biology
Affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Date: Friday, March 17, 2006.
Place and Time: Room 101 - Love Building, 3:35-4:30 pm.
Refreshments: Room 204 - Love Building, 3:00 pm.

Abstract. The concept of a "genetic network" refers to the complex network of regulatory systems are thought of as ``circuits'' or ``networks'' of interacting components, and were described in computer science terms: The genetic material is the ``program'' that guides protein production in a cell; protein levels determine the evolution of the network at subsequent times, and thus serve as its ``memory''.
This talk will describe our work in further understanding whether genetic networks are indeed computers like, and what are possible consequences. We will analyze their computational complexity, construct a cell collection with behaving properties from a cell with a particular genetic network, and develope a model explicating the master clock of the biological circadian rhythm.