Simulating biochemical pathways

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Simulating biochemical pathways

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 12th March 2012
  • Speaker: Steven Court (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Evolution has clearly produced a huge diversity of life on Earth. Underpinning these different forms however, is a biosynthetic and energy producing metabolism containing chemical pathways which are conserved across vastly different organisms. Our aim is to use computer simulations to understand better the evolution of metabolism. In our simulations, we generate a "complete" set of chemicals and their reactions, including both "real" biochemical compounds and those which are chemically feasible but are not utilized by any known organism. By comparing the properties of biochemical pathways in our "super-network" with the real biochemical pathways, we aim to understand why metabolism has evolved to the forms we see in nature.

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

Find out more about Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars.