Bond-graph modelling and causal analysis of biomolecular systems

Abstract

Bond graph modelling of the biomolecular systems of living organisms is introduced. Molecular species are represented by non-linear C components and reactions by non-linear two-port R components. As living systems are neither at thermodynamic equilibrium nor closed, open and non-equilibrium systems are considered and illustrated using examples of biomolecular systems. Open systems are modelled using chemostats: chemical species with fixed concentration. In addition to their role in ensuring that models are energetically correct, bond graphs provide a powerful and natural way of representing and analysing causality. Causality is used in this chapter to examine the properties of the junction s..