Investigating Modular Structure and Function in Biology: from Immunology to Cognition

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dc.contributor.advisorKolomeisky, Anatoly Ben_US
dc.creatorBonomo, Melia E.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2020-12-04T16:53:48Zen_US
dc.date.available2021-12-01T06:01:11Zen_US
dc.date.created2020-12en_US
dc.date.issued2020-12-04en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2020en_US
dc.date.updated2020-12-04T16:53:48Zen_US
dc.description.abstractModularity is the grouping of the components of a complex system into distinct units. Modular structure is pervasive in biology and has been especially studied in biological networks, including metabolic circuits, protein-protein interaction networks, ecological food webs, and human brain networks. However, beyond simply quantifying the organization of these different systems, modularity plays an important role in optimizing their functional capabilities. It affords a system greater evolvability, efficiency, and robustness to perturbation; however, depending on the function being carried out, lower modularity is sometimes more advantageous, as it does not constrain the system to a particular configuration. The interactions between system complexity, modularity, flexibility of module composition, task demand, and performance provide a versatile theoretical framework that can tackle a diverse set of problems. Under this generalized theoretical model, I have studied a broad range of biological systems: the CRISPR-Cas immune mechanism in bacteria, the human immune response to influenza, and the human brain both at rest and during task performance. This work has applications to increasing precision in genetic editing, improving flu vaccine selection and development, understanding music processing in the brain, and quantifying the cognitive health benefits of a therapeutic arts intervention.en_US
dc.embargo.terms2021-12-01en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationBonomo, Melia E.. "Investigating Modular Structure and Function in Biology: from Immunology to Cognition." (2020) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/109615">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/109615</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/109615en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectmodularityen_US
dc.subjectflexibilityen_US
dc.subjectcomplex systemsen_US
dc.subjectCRISPR-Casen_US
dc.subjectimmune systemen_US
dc.subjectinfluenza virusen_US
dc.subjectvaccine effectivenessen_US
dc.subjecthuman brainen_US
dc.subjectfunctional connectivity networken_US
dc.subjectmusic processingen_US
dc.titleInvestigating Modular Structure and Function in Biology: from Immunology to Cognitionen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentApplied Physicsen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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