Lecturer: Bas Kooijman
Affiliation: Dept Theoretical Biology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Seminar: Modeling in Life Sciences, Claude Bernard University, Lyon
Date: 2007/09/13
Title: Dynamic Energy Budget theory for metabolic organisation 
       and its applications

Abstract:
Metabolic organization of individual organisms is basic to life. It
seems to follow simple quantitative rules that can be understood from
basic physical chemical principles. These rules quantify how
individuals acquire and utilize energy and nutrients, while cycling
through their life stages. Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory
identifies the most basic rules, and links them together in a
consistent framework.

The DEB theory applies to all species of organisms (unicellular
as well as multicellular ones) and links various levels of biological
organization; this multi-level approach is considered to be essential
for the understanding of life processes. Many popular empirical models
turn out to be special cases of the standard DEB model, or very
close numerical approximations. 

The lecture will discuss some recent progress in 
 - formalisation of the theory
 - evolutionary aspects of metabolic organisation
 - parameter estimation
 - applications in ecotoxicity and biotechnology

More information about research on DEB theory can be found at
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/deb/

A general introductory paper to the DEB theory can be found at
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/research/bib/Kooy2001.html