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Cellular noise is a generic term designating random fluctuations in the rates of biochemical reactions, which can cause non-deterministic heterogeneity among genetically identical cells. Such fluctuations can either be detrimental to the accuracy of biological function or favourable to the sensitivity or adaptability of biological processes.
Mutations of several genes cause variable phenotypes. Here, the authors show stochastic her1 and her7 gene expression, which is affected by environmental conditions, underlies variability of somite segmentation defects.
Generating and controlling cell collective behavior is important for synthetic biology and bioproduction. Here, the authors show the diversification dynamic and the fitness cost associated with cell switching are coupled in yeast and bacteria, and demonstrate the feasibility of controlling diversification regimes.
The interconnected network of cellular metabolism is potentially prone to generating oscillatory behaviour. Here, the authors use single-cell FRET measurements of pyruvate levels to reveal large periodic fluctuations in bacterial glycolysis.
Noise in biochemical processes can compromise precision in cellular functions. An analysis involving information theory suggests that there is a strict limit to how far noise can be suppressed by feedback.