Why Build Whole-Cell Models?

Abstract

Our ability to build computational models that account for all known gene functions in a cell has increased dramatically. But why build whole-cell models, and how can they best be used? In this forum, we enumerate several areas in which whole-cell modeling can significantly impact research and technology.

Keywords: model-driven discovery; predictive biology; whole-cell modeling.

Figure 1. Applications of whole-cell modeling to academia and industry

Heterogeneous data sets are integrated into a unified representation and are reconciled against each other in order to identify potential gaps in our current knowledge. Next, complex, multi-network phenotypes are simulated and predicted, and compared to data, which leads to model-driven discovery as hypotheses generated by the model are subject to experimental validation. This process is analogous to the “design-build-test-learn” cycle in industry (see dashed lines), where whole-cell models can provide a framework to accelerate the creation of genetically-modified organisms.