The genetic information encoded in DNA is read off in living cells through the processes of 'transcription' and 'translation.' The gene produces mRNA molecules (transcription), and mRNAs make proteins (translation) using other macromolecules' help. One fact of life is that these molecular processes are 'noisy.' There are cell-to-cell variations in the mRNA and protein copy numbers even when cells are genetically identical. This noise arguably is a source of 'phenotypic diversity'. We are interested in how molecular regulation affects gene expression noise.
Previously we investigated how molecular competition for transcription factors affects gene expression noise. We are now looking at post-transcriptional regulation of the gene expression by micro-RNAs. Micro-RNAs are small non-coding RNAs that bind to large mRNA molecules and inhibit translation. We are developing stochastic models for micro-RNA mediated negative feedback loops.
Motivation
Everyone wonders about the vast diversity of life forms around us. Amidst this diversity and complexity of life, modern biology's challenge is to build a unified understanding of how 'life' self-organizes itself. Along with traditional tools, modern biology now integrates methods from various disciplines like mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, etc. This interdisciplinary venture hopefully will help us to tease apart the complexities of life. Also, biology is becoming increasingly quantitative, where the role of hypothesis-based theory is indispensable. With this general motivation, our lab focuses on theoretical and computational modeling of biological processes.
