This logical model encompasses 48 components and 82 regulatory interactions controlling mesoderm specification during Drosophila development, thereby integrating all major genetic processes underlying the formation of four mesodermal tissues. The model is based on in vivo genetic data, partly confirmed by functional genomic data.
Model simulations qualitatively recapitulate the expression of the main lineage markers of each mesodermal derivative, from developmental stage 8 to 10, for the wild type case, as well as for over twenty reported mutant genotypes.
This model has been used to systematically predict the effects of over 300 loss- and gain-off unction mutations, and combinations thereof. By generating specific mutant combinations, several novel predictions experimentally could be validated, demonstrating the robustness of model.