The future of whole-cell modeling
Current Opinion in BiotechnologyPublished 17 February 2014Open access
Derek N. Macklin, Nicholas A. Ruggero, Markus W. Covert
Citations78
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TL;DR
From the group's experience building a whole-cell model of Mycoplasma genitalium, several significant challenges to building models of more complex cells are identified.
Abstract
Integrated whole-cell modeling is poised to make a dramatic impact on molecular and systems biology, bioengineering, and medicine--once certain obstacles are overcome. From our group's experience building a whole-cell model of Mycoplasma genitalium, we identified several significant challenges to building models of more complex cells. Here we review and discuss these challenges in seven areas: first, experimental interrogation; second, data curation; third, model building and integration; fourth, accelerated computation; fifth, analysis and visualization; sixth, model validation; and seventh, collaboration and community development. Surmounting these challenges will require the cooperation of an interdisciplinary group of researchers to create increasingly sophisticated whole-cell models and make data, models, and simulations more accessible to the wider community.
Keywords
Immunology and MicrobiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
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