Validating MAS simulation models with mutation

Issue title: Multi-agent systems for medicine, computational biology, and bioinformatics

Guest editors: Giuliano Armano

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Merelli, Emanuela^{a; *} | Young, Michal^b

Affiliations: [a] Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica, Università di Camerino, Camerino, 62032, Italy | [b] Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA | Department of Electrical and Electronical Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0737402567; Fax: +39 0737402561; E-mail: emanuela.merelli@unicam.it

Abstract: A key reason for choosing agent-based simulation of a biological system over other kinds of simulation model is the potential for structural as well as behavioral correspondence between the simulation model and the modeled system. This correspondence both demands and makes possible new kinds of model validation. Model fidelity can be evaluated by introducing seeded faults that correspond to known or hypothesized mutations, thus tying software validation to biological mutation analysis. The approach is illustrated by application to two implementations of an agent-based model of carbohydrate oxidation in a cell.

Keywords: Multi-agent systems (MAS), mutation, systems biology

DOI: 10.3233/MGS-2007-3206

Journal: Multiagent and Grid Systems, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 225-243, 2007