Understanding Motifs in Biological Networks
Author Information
Author(s): Konagurthu Arun S, Lesk Arthur M
Primary Institution: The Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
Do motifs in biological networks occur more frequently than expected by chance?
Conclusion
The study suggests that motifs in biological networks do not occur at frequencies significantly different from random networks, indicating that their presence may not be due to evolutionary selection.
Supporting Evidence
- The frequencies of motifs were similar in real biological networks and random networks.
- Topological properties of networks may explain the observed frequency profiles of motifs.
Takeaway
The study looked at patterns in biological networks and found that these patterns happen just as often as you'd expect by chance, so they might not be special after all.
Methodology
The study analyzed transcription regulatory networks of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, and a neuronal signaling pathway using algorithms for subgraph isomorphism.
Limitations
The study may not account for all possible biological network configurations and their complexities.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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