RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 An analytical approach to bistable biological circuit discrimination using real algebraic geometry JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 008581 DO 10.1101/008581 A1 Dan Siegal-Gaskins A1 Elisa Franco A1 Tiffany Zhou A1 Richard M. Murray YR 2015 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/03/01/008581.abstract AB Biomolecular circuits with two distinct and stable steady states have been identified as essential components in a wide range of biological networks, with a variety of mechanisms and topologies giving rise to their important bistable property. Understanding the differences between circuit implementations is an important question, particularly for the synthetic biologist faced with determining which bistable circuit design out of many is best for their specific application. In this work we explore the applicability of Sturm’s theorem—a tool from 19th-century real algebraic geometry—to comparing “functionally equivalent” bistable circuits without the need for numerical simulation. We consider two genetic toggle variants and two different positive feedback circuits, and show how specific topological properties present in each type of circuit can serve to increase the size of their operational range. The demonstrated predictive power and ease of use of Sturm’s theorem suggests that algebraic geometric techniques may be underutilized in biomolecular circuit analysis.