Rockets, gauges, and pendulums: applying engineering principles to cell biology

被引:2
作者
Sullivan, William [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Calif Santa Cruz, Sinsheimer Labs, Dept Mol Cell & Dev Biol, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA
关键词
CHECKPOINT; YEAST; SIZE;
D O I
10.1091/mbc.E19-02-0100
中图分类号
Q2 [细胞生物学];
学科分类号
071009 ; 090102 ;
摘要
From flight to radar to Velcro, biological form and function have inspired engineers for centuries. It is equally valuable to consider whether concepts in engineering might provide insights into core biological processes. To explore this idea, cell cycle checkpoints, biological clocks, and signaling pathways are viewed here from an engineering perspective. Engineering concepts covered include gauge error, the distinction between precision and accuracy, and the Taguchi method of robust design. Also discussed is the Pareto principle, which describes the observation that, in complex systems, a minority of the components (or inputs) are responsible for a majority of the outputs. These concepts enable engineers to manage complexity, both in system design and in operation. Thus, with new techniques and large data sets revealing ever-increasing levels of biological complexity, an engineering mindset may be particularly valuable for the study of living systems.
引用
收藏
页码:1635 / 1640
页数:6
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