Complex dynamics in a synchronized cell-free genetic clock.

ABSTRACT: Complex dynamics such as period doubling and chaos occur in a wide variety of non-linear dynamical systems. In the context of biological circadian clocks, such phenomena have been previously found in computational models, but their experimental study in biological systems has been challenging. Here, we present experimental evidence of period doubling in a forced cell-free genetic oscillator operated in a microfluidic reactor, where the system is periodically perturbed by modulating the concentration of one of the oscillator components. When the external driving matches the intrinsic period, we experimentally find period doubling and quadrupling in the oscillator dynamics. Our results closely match the predictions of a theoretical model, which also suggests conditions under which our system

SUBMITTER: Aufinger L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9126873 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature