title: Computational modelling of embryonic stem-cell fate control.
abstract: The maintenance of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), its loss during lineage specification or its re-induction to generate induced pluripotent stem cells are central topics in stem cell biology. To uncover the molecular basis and the design principles of pluripotency control, a multitude of experimental, but also an increasing number of computational, studies have been published. Here, we consider recent reports that apply computational or mathematical modelling approaches to describe the regulatory processes that underlie cell fate decisions in mouse ESCs. We summarise the principles, the strengths and potentials but also the limitations of different computational strategies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden D-01307, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden D-01307, Germany ingo.roeder@tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roeder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D003198:Computer Simulation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells
keywords: Computational biology; Embryonic stem cells; Multi-scale models; Network dynamics; Stem cell fate decisions