title: Contextual models and the non-Newtonian paradigm.
abstract: Biological systems exhibit a wide range of contextual effects, and this often makes it difficult to construct valid mathematical models of their behaviour. In particular, mathematical paradigms built upon the successes of Newtonian physics make assumptions about the nature of biological systems that are unlikely to hold true. After discussing two of the key assumptions underlying the Newtonian paradigm, we discuss two key aspects of the formalism that extended it, Quantum Theory (QT). We draw attention to the similarities between biological and quantum systems, motivating the development of a similar formalism that can be applied to the modelling of biological processes.
authors.affiliation: Information Systems School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 4000, Australia. Electronic address: kirsty.kitto@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitto
authors.forename: R Daniel
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kortschak
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*; D049490:Systems Biology / Q000379:methods*; D018511:Systems Integration
keywords: Biological models; Contextuality; Non-separability