Predicting phenotypic diversity and the underlying quantitative molecular transitions.

ABSTRACT: During development, signaling networks control the formation of multicellular patterns. To what extent quantitative fluctuations in these complex networks may affect multicellular phenotype remains unclear. Here, we describe a computational approach to predict and analyze the phenotypic diversity that is accessible to a developmental signaling network. Applying this framework to vulval development in C. elegans, we demonstrate that quantitative changes in the regulatory network can render approximately 500 multicellular phenotypes. This phenotypic capacity is an order-of-magnitude below the theoretical upper limit for this system but yet is large enough to demonstrate that the system is not restricted to a select few outcomes. Using metrics to gauge the robustness of these phenotypes to pa

SUBMITTER: Giurumescu CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2661366 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature