Jacob, ChristianBurleigh, Ian George2005-08-162005-08-1620040494037458http://hdl.handle.net/1880/41380Bibliography: p. 59-62The lactose (lac) operon is a prototypical gene regulatory system. This thesis describes a three-dimensional, agent-based, visual computer model of the lac operon. The reader is provided with relevant background knowledge from the fields of molecular biology, agent-based systems, and computer graphics, followed by a description of the model construction. The model simulates important structures and events of the lactose operon in a cell environment. Cellular elements, such as RNA polymerase, messenger RNA, synthesized proteins, etc., are represented by independent, situated agents with physical properties, acting in a decentralized fashion. From interactions of the agents emerge observable and measurable, complex real-time dynamics of the modelled system. A running simulation can be viewed in 3-D on a computer screen or stereoscopic 3-D in the CAVE® virtual immersive environment, potentially serving as a valuable teaching and experimental tool.xi, 108 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.master thesis10.11575/PRISM/23515AC1 .T484 2004 B868