A Glossary for Systems Biology
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DYNAMIC (BEHAVIOR)
Glossary
DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL
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DIFFERENTIATION
differential control
The development of different phenotypes out of a common predecessor;
also called diversification.
Refers to the mathematical operation of differentiating a variable
to get the change of that variable with respect to a certain base
unit.
In the biological sense, differentiation means that different
types develop out of a common predecessor. This is also called diversification.
Differentiation takes place at different levels in biology:
It can be seen in the development of an organism from a single cell
to a complex organism (see Illustration) as well as on the evolutionary
level, where species change to adapt to new conditions and new species
evolve (adaptation).
The systems theoretic meaning has its roots in the definition of differential
mathematics, where differentiation is explained in terms
of differences of a variable with respect to infinitesimal
steps of the base unit:
for
. Usually it refers to changes with respect
to time (
), but other base units are possible
as well. Differentiation with respect to direction (
),
for example, yields the change in value along a direction vector in
space.
- evolution: taxonomy (system), phylogenetic tree (hierarchy)
- development of a complex organism from a single cell (see Illustrations)
- changes in concentrations in a chemical reactor over time
- changes in concentration along a pipe (changes with respect to space)
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