Dynamic compensation and homeostasis: a feedback control perspective

TL;DR

This paper offers a novel control-theoretic explanation for biological robustness properties like dynamic compensation and homeostasis, using model-free control and intelligent controllers, supported by computer simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a model-free control approach to explain biological robustness, providing a new perspective and simulation evidence for dynamic compensation and homeostasis.

Findings

Model-free control explains robustness in biological circuits.

Simulations demonstrate effectiveness of the approach.

Provides a new control perspective on biological homeostasis.

Abstract

"Dynamic compensation" is a robustness property where a perturbed biological circuit maintains a suitable output [Karin O., Swisa A., Glaser B., Dor Y., Alon U. (2016). Mol. Syst. Biol., 12: 886]. In spite of several attempts, no fully convincing analysis seems now to be on hand. This communication suggests an explanation via "model-free control" and the corresponding "intelligent" controllers [Fliess M., Join C. (2013). Int. J. Contr., 86, 2228-2252], which are already successfully applied in many concrete situations. As a byproduct this setting provides also a slightly different presentation of homeostasis, or "exact adaptation," where the working conditions are assumed to be "mild." Several convincing, but academic, computer simulations are provided and discussed.