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Principal difference between stability and structural stability (robustness) as used in systems biology.
Svetoslav Nikolov1, Elka Yankulova, Olaf Wolkenhauer
1Institute of Mechanics and Biomechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 4, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria. S.Nikolov@imbm.bas.bg
Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences
|August 19, 2007
Summary
This review clarifies stability and structural stability (robustness) in systems biology. It distinguishes these concepts and explains their necessity for analyzing biological systems like cell signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Systems biology
- Computational systems biology
- Dynamical systems theory
Background:
- Robustness is a key property of complex biological systems.
- Stability and structural stability are frequently used but often unclearly defined in systems biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the precise definitions of stability and structural stability (robustness) in dynamical systems.
- To differentiate between stability and robustness in contemporary biology.
- To explain the importance of assessing the stability of cell signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Formulating mathematical definitions of stability and structural stability for dynamical systems.
- Analyzing the application of these concepts in computational systems biology.
- Examining a concrete biological system to illustrate the concepts.
Main Results:
- The principal differences between stability and structural stability (robustness) are clarified.
- The application of these concepts in analyzing biological systems is demonstrated.
- Criteria for defining stability and structural stability in biological contexts are proposed.
Conclusions:
- Precise definitions are crucial for understanding biological system behavior.
- Distinguishing stability from robustness enhances the analysis of biological complexity.
- Investigating pathway stability is essential for systems biology research.
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