Modelling biological behaviours with the unified modelling language: an immunological case study and critique.

ABSTRACT: We present a framework to assist the diagrammatic modelling of complex biological systems using the unified modelling language (UML). The framework comprises three levels of modelling, ranging in scope from the dynamics of individual model entities to system-level emergent properties. By way of an immunological case study of the mouse disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, we show how the framework can be used to produce models that capture and communicate the biological system, detailing how biological entities, interactions and behaviours lead to higher-level emergent properties observed in the real world. We demonstrate how the UML can be successfully applied within our framework, and provide a critique of UML's ability to capture concepts fundamental to immunology and biolo

SUBMITTER: Read M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4233755 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature