USING MODELS TO EXPLORE WHOLE-BODY METABOLISM AND ACCESSING MODELS THROUGH A MODEL LIBRARY

A model is a mathematical representation of a system that can be used to explore the system in a number of ways: to determine the system's i nternal connections, to calculate properties of the system such as flo w rates and pool sizes, and to make predictions about the system's beh avior under different conditions. The use of modeling to explore whole -body metabolism is demonstrated using a compartmental model of zinc k inetics as an example. Because models are useful tools for exploring s ystems, a facility called a ''model library'' is being established on the Internet to provide access to working versions of published models . Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.