A Sequence-Based, Population Genetic Model of Regulatory Pathway Evolution

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorNakhleh, Luay K.
dc.creatorRuths, Troy
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-08T00:38:20Z
dc.date.available2013-03-08T00:38:20Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractComplex phenotypes with genetic cause are understood through many processes, including regulatory pathways, but our evolutionary understanding of these critical structures is undermined by poor models which fail to preserve the underlying sequence structure and to incorporate population genetics. In response, this thesis builds a pathway model of evolution from its underlying sequence structure and validates it against a pertinent problem in genome evolution which uniquely leverage the developed model. Specifically, my model preserves sequence characteristics through a novel data structure and pathway-level mutation and recombination rates which are functions of sequence properties. The utility of the model is validated with a study quantifying the advantages and disadvantages of expansive non-coding DNA regions on the establishment of optimal pathways. Because the model presented in this thesis rectifies many fundamental problems in previous models, it may serve as a critical tool for future work in pathway evolution.
dc.format.extent81 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS COMP.SCI. 2011 RUTHS
dc.identifier.citationRuths, Troy. "A Sequence-Based, Population Genetic Model of Regulatory Pathway Evolution." (2011) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70420">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70420</a>.
dc.identifier.digitalRuthsTen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/70420
dc.language.isoeng
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.
dc.subjectApplied sciences
dc.subjectBiological sciences
dc.subjectEvolution & development
dc.subjectBioinformatics
dc.subjectComputer science
dc.titleA Sequence-Based, Population Genetic Model of Regulatory Pathway Evolution
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentComputer Science
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
RuthsT.pdf
Size:
2.49 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations