Expedited Award for Novel Research: The Nematode as a ModelComplex System-Exploratory Studies

一个基本的工程问题是“复杂”系统的组织。这样的系统需要许多组件的协调交互和通信，并且可能涉及高度并发和分布式的计算和控制。这些系统通常必须与变化的环境相互作用并适应变化的环境。然而，目前甚至没有一种合适的语言来讨论这种系统的组织，更不用说适当的理论或数学框架了。为了建立这样一个框架，建议将重点放在一个“简单”的生物有机体上，即线虫C.elegans，作为一个小但基本上自包含的模型宇宙。PI打算将实验数据和理论结构合并到一组协调的并发部分模型中，这些模型具有不同程度的相互影响。这些模型可能在类型、组织级别、抽象程度和分辨率级别上有所不同。从长远来看，它们应该包含生物体的发育、结构、功能和行为的各个阶段。然而，最初的重点将放在神经系统控制行为的功能上。该方法将包括三个相互作用的组成部分：计算机建模和模拟，数学和理论发展，以及实验室实验。

A basic engineering issue is the organization of "complex" systems. Such systems require the coordinated interaction and communication of many components, and may involve highly concurrent and distributed computation and control. These systems must generally interact with and adapt to a changeable environment. At the present time, however, there is not even a suitable language to discuss the organization of such systems, let alone a proper theoretical or mathematical framework. To develop such a framework, it is proposed to focus on a "simple" biological organism, the nematode worm C.elegans, as a small but essentially self-contained model universe. PI's intend to incorporate experimental data and theoretical constructs into a coordinated set of concurrent partial models, with varying degrees of mutual influence. These models may differ as to type, level of organization, degree of abstraction, and level of resolution. Over the long term, they should incorporate the various stages of development, structure, function, and behavior of the organism. Initially, however, the focus will be on the function of the nervous system in the control of behavior. The approach will comprise three interacting components: computer modelling and simulation, mathematics and theory development, and laboratory experimentation.