Functional roles for noise in genetic circuits

Avigdor Eldar, Michael B. Elowitz

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1160 Scopus citations

Abstract

The genetic circuits that regulate cellular functions are subject to stochastic fluctuations, or 'noise', in the levels of their components. Noise, far from just a nuisance, has begun to be appreciated for its essential role in key cellular activities. Noise functions in both microbial and eukaryotic cells, in multicellular development, and in evolution. It enables coordination of gene expression across large regulons, as well as probabilistic differentiation strategies that function across cell populations. At the longest timescales, noise may facilitate evolutionary transitions. Here we review examples and emerging principles that connect noise, the architecture of the gene circuits in which it is present, and the biological functions it enables. We further indicate some of the important challenges and opportunities going forward.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-173
Number of pages7
JournalNature
Volume467
Issue number7312
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Sep 2010

Funding

FundersFunder number
International Human Frontier Science Organization
National Science Foundation0644463
National Institutes of HealthP50GM068763
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
National Institute of General Medical SciencesR01GM079771
EMBO

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