Mathematical Biology Seminar

Date: April 10, 2025

Time: 3:00PM - 3:50PM

Location: BLOC 628

Speaker: Gregory Reeves, Texas A&M University (Chemical Engineering)

Title: Analysis of fluctuation spectroscopy methods for systems biology

Abstract: Human health depends crucially on the ability of our cells to integrate extracellular information (e.g., cell-cell signaling) to make proper decisions, such as in stem cell differentiation and tissue development. My current focus is to deduce the rules of cell-cell signaling to advance signaling-based therapies. To approach this goal, my lab synergizes quantitative measurements in live tissues together with mechanistic computational modeling. In this talk, I will first discuss a huge conundrum in systems biology: On the one hand, models are needed to make sense of the high volume of experimental data. On the other, the sheer number of unknown model parameters significantly reduces the utility of models. To overcome this challenge, I will next discuss the mathematical analysis of data from raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS), which is a derivative of the better-known fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Finally, I will frame these results in the context of the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) NF-κB/Dorsal signaling pathway. Studying the fruit fly has many advantages, such as a simple geometry, a short life cycle, and advanced tools for imaging, genetics, and transgenesis. These advantages make Drosophila the premiere model organism for quantitative and computational studies of tissue development. Furthermore, given that most signaling pathways, including NF-κB/Dorsal, are highly conserved from flies to humans, studying fruit flies as a model organism is relevant to all animals. Our work on signaling and differentiation in fruit flies aligns with my long-term goal: to deduce the rules of life in multicellular biology, aiding the design of therapies for human health.