Modeling and analyzing complex biological networks incooperating experimental information on both network topology and stable states

Results: This article proposes a novel method to study intrinsically the relationship between experimental data and the possible Boolean networks, which can be used to model the underlying system. Simple and easy to use criteria for a Boolean network to have both a given network topology and a given set of stable states are derived. These criteria can be used to guide the selection of a Boolean network model for the system, as well as to gain information on the intrinsic properties, such as the robustness and the evolvability, of the system. A Boolean model for the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is used to explain the method.