Concepts in Boolean network modeling: What do they all mean?

Abstract

Boolean network models are one of the simplest models to study complex dynamic behavior in biological systems. They can be applied to unravel the mechanisms regulating the properties of the system or to identify promising intervention targets. Since its introduction by Stuart Kauffman in 1969 for describing gene regulatory networks, various biologically based networks and tools for their analysis were developed. Here, we summarize and explain the concepts for Boolean network modeling. We also present application examples and guidelines to work with and analyze Boolean network models.

Keywords

• Boolean network model
• Simulation
• Perturbation
• Robustness
• Phenotype
• Drug screening