Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2105.13702

Novel Generic Models for Differentiating Stem Cells Reveal Oscillatory Mechanisms

Saeed Farjami·Karen Camargo Sosa·Jonathan H. P. Dawes·Robert N. Kelsh·Andrea Rocco
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Understanding cell fate selection remains a central challenge in developmental biology. We present a class of simple yet biologically-motivated mathematical models for cell differentiation that generically generate oscillations and hence suggest alternatives to the standard framework based on Waddington's epigenetic landscape. The models allow us to suggest two generic dynamical scenarios that describe the differentiation process. In the first scenario gradual variation of a single control parameter is responsible for both entering and exiting the oscillatory regime. In the second scenario two control parameters vary: one responsible for entering, and the other for exiting the oscillatory regime. We analyse the standard repressilator and four variants of it and show the dynamical behaviours associated with each scenario. We present a thorough analysis of the associated bifurcations and argue that gene regulatory networks with these repressilator-like characteristics are promising candidates to describe cell fate selection through an oscillatory process.

Explore related subjects

math.DS

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Saeed Farjami, Karen Camargo Sosa, Jonathan H. P. Dawes, Robert N. Kelsh, Andrea Rocco. 2021-07-22. Novel Generic Models for Differentiating Stem Cells Reveal Oscillatory Mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0442

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Equidistribution of saddle periodic points for Hénon-like maps

We prove that under a natural assumption on the dynamical degrees, the saddle periodic points of a Hénon-like map in any dimension equidistribute with respect to the equilibrium measure. Our work is a generalization of the results of Bedford-Lyubich-Smillie, Dujardin, and Dinh-Sibony along with improvements of their techniques. We also investigate some fine properties of Green currents associated with the map.

math.DS↗
arXiv2026

On dissonance and orthogonal projections of self-conformal measures

Let $μ$ be a self-conformal measure on $\mathbb{R}^d$. We establish conditions for $μ$ under which $\dim(μ*ν) = \min\lbrace d,\dimμ+\dimν\rbrace$ holds when $ν$ is any Ahlfors-regular or self-conformal measure on $\mathbb{R}^d$. Our main result states the following sufficient condition: $μ$ is totally non-linear and not supported on a smooth hypersurface. We also establish sufficient (likely non-sharp) algebraic conditions for self-conformal measures which are not totally non-linear. In addition, we show that $\dim μ\circπ^{-1} = \min\{ k, \dim μ\}$ for every ortohogonal projection $π:\mathbb{R}^d\to\mathbb{R}^k$, $0<k<d$, when either $d=2$ and $μ$ is not self-similar and not supported on a line, or $d\geq 3$ and $μ$ is totally non-linear and not supported on a smooth hypersurface.

math.DS↗
arXiv2026

Equation-Free Screening of Mittag-Leffler-Compatible Dynamics from Scalar Time Series via kNN Multi-Horizon Profiles

Fractional models provide a natural description of systems with memory, but a noninteger derivative should not be introduced solely because a time series is curved or slowly relaxing. We develop an equation-free preliminary screening framework that asks whether a scalar time series produces a multi-horizon k-nearest-neighbor (kNN) profile more compatible with Mittag-Leffler-type behavior than with selected conventional alternatives. In an ideal matched Caputo-relaxation benchmark, the complete generation-kNN-profile-model-comparison pipeline reproduces the expected Mittag-Leffler geometry and recovers the generating order to within approximately $10^{-3}$; this is interpreted as controlled calibration rather than as general fractional-order identification. Under 3% trajectory-specific observational noise, the held-out Mittag-Leffler preference is most consistent when the generating dynamics are well separated from the integer-order limit and becomes progressively less decisive as $α\rightarrow1$. The fitted order $α_{\mathrm{fit}}$, however, shows substantially larger realization-to-realization variability. Thus, relative model compatibility is more robust than single-realization order estimation in the present noisy benchmark. Noise-free nonfractional controls show a separate limitation of specificity: a stretched exponential can generate a strongly Mittag-Leffler-compatible profile, whereas inclusion of the generating rational/Hill family recovers that family and its parameters to numerical precision in the matched setting. A positive Mittag-Leffler-versus-exponential screen therefore does not uniquely establish fractional origin. A fractional chaotic system is treated only as an exploratory extension: the Mittag-Leffler growth family gives lower finite-window RMSE than exponential and logistic/saturating alternatives over the detected pre-transition interval.

math.DS↗