Deze cursus wordt gegeven in het Engels.

Ingangseisen
Verplichte voorkennis is de eerstejaars cursus Systeembiologie. Sterk aanbevolen wordt om voorafgaande de cursus de niveau 2 cursus Theoretische ecologie te volgen.
 

Studieadviespad
De cursus Computationele biologie bied je een sterke theoretische ondersteuning in de studieadviespaden Moleculaire levenswetenschappen en Organismen, ecosystemen en biodiversiteit.
 

Inhoud
During the course, the emphasis will be on composing exact models, based on specific hypotheses. The models are analyzed, the results yielding insights in the original biological system. The models that are studied address fundamental questions from a variety of biological fields, among which:
–   Evolutionary dynamics
     -  eco-evolutionary dynamics and spatial pattern formation,
     -  host-pathogen co-evolution,
     -  genome evolution, e.g. interaction between gene regulation and evolution,
     -  evolution of complexity, robustness and evolvability.

–   Developmental dynamics (from genes to organisms) (plant and animal models will be used):
     -  pattern formation,
     -  cell differentiation,
     -  morphogenesis and mechanical interactions between cells,
     -  EVO-DEVO (evolution of development). 

–   Network dynamics):
     -  gene regulation and metabolic networks,
     -  RNA interference.

 –   Behaviour
     -  behavioral self-structuring through local interactions,
     -  interface between learning and evolution.

(Spatial)  pattern formation and emergent properties  are common themes emphasised in all these areas and the related general theory is introduced as a separate module.A number of different model formalisms are used, namely:
–   non-linear differential/difference equations (ODE and MAPs),
–   reaction Diffusion Systems (PDE),
–   Cellular automata machines,
–   event based models,
–   individually oriented models,
–   evolutionary computation,
–   hybrid models using several combinatiions of the above formalisms. 

Analysis tools include bifurcation analysis, sensitivity analysis, and various pattern analysis techniques.
 

Werkvormen
A typical day starts with lectures, followed by computational modeling excercises. Literature will be handed out related to the computer excercises , and at the end of the course, literature seminars are given by the students.
 

Toetsing
The student's final mark is based on  the exam and the literature seminar.