UBM: Integrated Analysis of Genetic and Cellular Networks

迫切需要具有定量知识和技能的生物科学家来进行分子生物学、遗传学和细胞系统的研究。这项面向生物和数学专业本科生的跨学科教研培养项目将招收本科三年级学生，其中一半是生物学专业，另一半是数学(含统计学)专业。这项研究将朝着理解分子结构和机制的定性和定量方法发展。这包括细胞中涉及基因表达和信号转导的通路和网络的动态和调节。它将涉及使用生物化学、遗传学和细胞生物学的技术策略，以及DNA和蛋白质微阵列分析、数据挖掘、动力学系统、数值模拟和偏微分方程等数学工具。学生将在数学系和统计与概率系的老师的指导下吸收和使用这些数学技巧。除了为参与的本科生提供密集的教育和研究培训外，这个项目还将影响未来课程改革的方向。人们已经注意到数学科学在21世纪生物学发展中的重要性，就像它们在过去物理科学和工程的发展中所发挥的重要作用一样。然而，生物学家和数学科学家的传统培训并没有让一个群体接触到另一个群体的工具、问题、进步的机会和挑战。该项目将在尖端生物学领域培训初露头角的数学科学家，并将培训与遗传学和细胞生物学领域相关的本科生生物学专业的定量分析。这些学生在生物和数学科学教师的指导下进行的特定研究项目包括对细胞内过程的数学分析，例如细胞各部分之间的通信和正常生命功能所需的分子组装。分子过程的数学描述允许对这些高度复杂的机制进行模拟，这带来了原本无法获得的理解。另一方面，数学描述依赖于仔细的实验室实验工作和数据分析，因此，至关重要的是，未来的科学家必须接受实验室方法和数学方法的培训，以研究细胞和遗传过程。这种综合的分析和理解应该有助于设计新的疗法来治疗人类疾病，如癌症、亨廷顿氏症、阿尔茨海默氏症和帕金森氏症。

There is a critical need for bio-scientists with quantitative knowledge and skills to conduct research in molecular biology, genetics and cellular systems. This interdisciplinary education and research training project for undergraduates in biological and mathematical sciences will recruit junior undergraduate students, with half majoring in biology, and the others in mathematics (including statistics). The research will be directed towards qualitative and quantitative approaches to understanding molecular structures and mechanisms. This includes dynamics and regulation of the pathways and networks involved in gene expression and signal transduction in cells. It will involve using technical strategies from biochemistry, genetics and cellular biology, and mathematical tools such as DNA and protein microarray analysis, data mining, dynamical systems, numerical simulation, and partial differential equations. The students will assimilate and employ these mathematical techniques under the direction of faculty from the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Statistics and Probability. Beyond providing intense education and research training to the participating undergraduates, this project will influence the future direction of curriculum changes.The importance of the mathematical sciences in the development of 21st Century biology has been noted, just as they have been important in the past development of physical sciences and engineering. Yet the traditional training of biologists and that of mathematical scientists did not expose one population to the tools, problems, opportunities for progress, and challenges of the other. This project will train budding mathematical scientists in cutting-edge biology and will train undergraduate biology majors in quantitative analysis relevant to the fields of genetics and cell biology. The particular research projects being addressed by these students under the guidance of faculty in the biological and mathematical sciences include mathematical analysis of processes within cells, such as communication between parts of the cell and the assembly of the molecules necessary for proper life functions. The mathematical description of molecular processes allows for the simulation of these highly complex mechanisms, which brings understanding that could otherwise be unavailable. The mathematical description on the other hand, relies upon careful laboratory experimental work and data analysis, and so it is essential that future scientists be trained in both the laboratory approach and the mathematical approach to research into cellular and genetic processes. This integrative analysis and understanding should help in devising novel therapies to treat human diseases such as cancer, Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.