Modelling of noisy systems: intrinsic, experimental error

Intrinsic noise in biological systems results from the variability and fluctuations observed at the molecular, cellular, and physiological levels. In general, experimental observations can only be made in one or a small number of sample individuals. Average, typical or representative behaviours for the entire population are subsequently inferred from the samples.

High-throughput technologies and screening techniques are constitutive of today's biology and are providing unprecedented volumes of data to describe protein networks. However, the quality of the data is clearly reduced, often leading to very low signal-to-noise ratio.

As a consequence, useful modelling of biological systems will inevitably involve modelling of these sources of noise.