title: A dynamical model of genetic networks for cell differentiation.
abstract: A mathematical model is proposed which is able to describe the most important features of cell differentiation, without requiring specific detailed assumptions concerning the interactions which drive the phenomenon. On the contrary, cell differentiation is described here as an emergent property of a generic model of the underlying gene regulatory network, and it can therefore be applied to a variety of different organisms. The model points to a peculiar role of cellular noise in differentiation and leads to non trivial predictions which could be subject to experimental testing. Moreover, a single model proves able to describe several different phenomena observed in various differentiation processes.
authors.affiliation: Modelling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Communications and Economics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013269:Stochastic Processes