A biological network is a graph representing biological entities and a specified relation among them. Examples include gene regulatory networks, protein interaction networks and metabolic networks. The vertex and edge definitions determine the scientific meaning: physical binding, regulation, chemical conversion and correlated activity are different relations.
A directed regulatory edge can record evidence that changing regulator affects expression of gene . An undirected protein-interaction edge can instead record a binding assay. Neither should automatically be read as the other. Experiments also have conditions, detection thresholds and error rates, so a missing edge is not always evidence of biological impossibility.
Graph quantities such as connected components of a graph, vertex degree and graph paths summarize the representation. A path through regulatory edges proposes a chain of influence; it does not by itself prove a causal mechanism. Combining controlled perturbations with physical or functional measurements can distinguish alternative interpretations of the same graph pattern.
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A biological network is a conceptual and computational framework used to represent and analyze the complex interactions and relationships among various biological entities within an organism or biological system. These entities can include genes, proteins, metabolites, cells, and even entire organisms. Biological networks can take various forms, depending on the type of interactions being represented. Some common types of biological networks include: 1. **Gene Regulatory Networks**: These networks illustrate how genes regulate each other's expression through transcription factors and other regulatory molecules.