Modeling in Systems Biology

The emerging, multi-disciplinary field of systems biology is devoted to the study of the relationships between various parts of a biological system, and computer modeling plays a vital role in the drive to understand the processes of life from an holistic viewpoint. Advancements in experimental technologies in biology and medicine have generated an enormous amount of biological data on the dependencies and interactions of many different molecular cell processes, fueling the development of numerous computational methods for exploring this data. The mathematical formalism of Petri net theory is able to encompass many of these techniques.

This essential text/reference presents a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research in applications of Petri nets in systems biology, with contributions from an international selection of experts. Those unfamiliar with the field are also provided with a general introduction to systems biology, the foundations of biochemistry, and the basics of Petri net theory. Further chapters address Petri net modeling techniques for building and analyzing biological models, as well as network prediction approaches, before reviewing the applications to networks of different biological classification.

Topics and features:

Investigates the modular, qualitative modeling of regulatory networks using Petri nets, and examines an Hybrid Functional Petri net simulation case study
Contains a glossary of the concepts and notation used in the book, in addition to exercises at the end of each chapter
Covers the topological analysis of metabolic and regulatory networks, the analysis of models of signaling networks, and the prediction of network structure
Provides a biological case study on the conversion of logical networks into Petri nets
Discusses discrete modeling, stochastic modeling, fuzzy modeling, dynamic pathway modeling, genetic regulatory networkmodeling, and quantitative analysis techniques
Includes a Foreword by Professor Jens Reich, Professor of Bioinformatics at Humboldt University and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin


This unique guide to the modeling of biochemical systems using Petri net concepts will be of real utility to researchers and students of computational biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, computer science, and biochemistry.

Dr. Ina Koch is a Professor and holds the Chair of Bioinformatics at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Dr. Wolfgang Reisig is a Professor and holds the Chair in the Theory of Programming at the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany.

Dr. Falk Schreiber is a Professor and holds the Chair of Bioinformatics at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, and the Coordinator of Bioinformatics at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Germany.