Metabolic Complexity. Is There Music Behind it?

Event Date: October 22, 2013
Speaker: Prof. Doraiswami Ramkrishna
Speaker Affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering
Purdue University
Time: 9:00 - 10:15 pm
Location: FRNY G140

The complexity of metabolic networks would appear to fit in more appropriately with a cacophonic scenario than anything remotely musical. However, this talk will attempt to show that a mathematical view can be had of this complex process in which the phenomenon of metabolic regulation can be likened to the conductor of a symphonic orchestra summoning combinations of instruments representing metabolic reactions towards superlative music. It will be the objective of this seminar to let this analogy lead the discussion of a cybernetic theory of cellular metabolism which interprets the diversity of gene expression as a targeted effort to maximize the organism’s survival.