Morgan BellUsing electrical circuit theory to simulate biological systems
December 17th 2007 18:22
Ah, brilliant!
Electrical engineers have been using circuit analysis for over a hundred years. There's such a complete body of work on the analysis of circuits that it's even taught, simplified. in high school.
One of the beautiful aspects of science is how theories from one field can be reapplied to another, wholly different, field.
Brad McRae is completing a Ph.D. in Forest Science at Northern Arizone University, and after a short career designing electronics, he noticed that there was a similarity between the movement of electrons and the interaction of a type of tree and wolverines.
Read the post!
More specifically, read the abstract from the research paper!
It comes out of the idea that genes flow like electrons... is this viable? Well, apparently, the circuit model 'beat gene-flow models', which is an interesting improvement.
Is there a future in this? Perhaps... McRae is applying the theory to mountain lions, in an attempt to aid conservation efforts.
"Mapping gene flow can help preserve species from extinction. The fragmentation of a species range can reduce its gene flow in much the same way ripping out wires can reduce the current moving through a circuit. Populations that don't get enough immigrants bringing fresh genes with them can become inbred, suffering from diseases and infertility. By mapping gene flow, conservation biologists can identify populations at risk and make smart plans to restore the flow."
While it might seem that we're taking some of the beautiful uniqueness out of life, but I find this irresistibly attractive... it's a coincidence that this model has value, but why not use years of knowledge, reapplied to a new field?
Electrical engineers have been using circuit analysis for over a hundred years. There's such a complete body of work on the analysis of circuits that it's even taught, simplified. in high school.
One of the beautiful aspects of science is how theories from one field can be reapplied to another, wholly different, field.
Brad McRae is completing a Ph.D. in Forest Science at Northern Arizone University, and after a short career designing electronics, he noticed that there was a similarity between the movement of electrons and the interaction of a type of tree and wolverines.
Read the post!
More specifically, read the abstract from the research paper!
It comes out of the idea that genes flow like electrons... is this viable? Well, apparently, the circuit model 'beat gene-flow models', which is an interesting improvement.
Is there a future in this? Perhaps... McRae is applying the theory to mountain lions, in an attempt to aid conservation efforts.
"Mapping gene flow can help preserve species from extinction. The fragmentation of a species range can reduce its gene flow in much the same way ripping out wires can reduce the current moving through a circuit. Populations that don't get enough immigrants bringing fresh genes with them can become inbred, suffering from diseases and infertility. By mapping gene flow, conservation biologists can identify populations at risk and make smart plans to restore the flow."
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