Multiagent-based simulation in biology

Abstract

In this paper we critically analyze the use of multiagent systems for performing simulations of biological processes. From the one hand, the possibility of associating different elements of a biological process to independent computing entities, called agents, makes multiagent systems a powerful and flexible tool for simulation. From the other hand, the weak validation of the results obtained makes multiagent-based simulations hard to trust. We discuss these issues by referring to a specific example, the simulation of a signal transduction pathway. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.