From 2007.igem.org

Abstract　　Concept & Model　　Requirements　　Genetic_circuit　　Works　　About_our_team

To follow Pareto’s principle like an ant society, our model system must follow the three cases shown in Fig. 1 to 3. In our model, all nodes (individual cells) have the same genetic circuits but take two states, A (worker) and B (idler), depending on the surrounding circumstances.

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Condition 1. Bistable state

Fig. 1 The system is stable when it contains both node A and node B at certain ratio.

Condition 2. Unstable state with node A removed

Fig. 2 By removal of node A, the system containing only node B becomes unstable.

Condition 3. From unstable to stable state

Fig. 3 In the unstable state, some node B changes to node A while the others remain B. Then the system becomes stable again.