BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM DYNAMICS - FROM PERSONAL DISCOVERY TO UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

Many biomedical problems, including diabetes, hypertension, and drug t olerance, are fundamentally problems of biological control systems. Co mputer modeling and simulation constitute an effective tool for the sy stematic study of such systems. In particular, System Dynamics provide s a graphical interface which allows one to develop a model structure using a parsimonious set of symbols. The structural diagram is linked with a set of equations to quantitatively describe each component in t he system. Simulations can then be conducted to examine the behavior o f the system under a variety of circumstances. Once models are develop ed, they nay be used by a larger audience after only a few hours' trai ning. It soon becomes evident that a given model may be applied to a s urprisingly wide variety of biological systems. Finally, System Dynami cs models may be readily modified, adapted, and expanded, leading to a growing body of models which are relevant to the biomedical community .