Erik Plahte

Plahte, Erik

Professor

E-mail: erik.plahte@umb.no

Phone: +47-6496-5824

Present position: Professor of applied mathematics, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Degrees: 1963: Cand. real. in theoretical physics, University of Oslo. 1971: Dr. philos. in theoretical physics, University of Oslo.

Professional background: 1963-64 Scientific assistant, Physics Department, University of Oslo. 1964-67 University lecturer in mathematics, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural University of Norway. 1967-69 Fellowship at Theory Division, CERN, Geneva.
1969-2002 Associate professor in mathematics, Agricultural University of Norway (now Norwegian University of Life Sciences). 2002- Professor of applied mathematics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Research experience and relevant recent activity: Studies in relativistic quantum mechanics, high energy physics. Mathematical analysis of models and model frameworks for gene regulatory networks and development of mathematical methods to study generic properties of systems with steep dose-response functions, modelling of physiological systems. Analysis of pattern generation and development of methods to describe and analyse macroscopic patterns in multicellular systems. Analysis of feedback in dynamical systems described by ordinary differential equations and use of feedback properties to disclose properties of dynamic networks and genotype-phenotype maps.

Selected publications:
  • Plahte E, Mestl T, Omholt SW. 1998. A methodological basis for description and analysis of systems with complex switch-like interactions. Journal of Mathematical Biology 36:321-348.
  • Omholt SW, Plahte E, Oyehaug L, Xiang KF. 2000. Gene regulatory networks generating the phenomena of additivity, dominance and epistasis. Genetics 155:969-980.
  • Plahte E. 2001. Pattern formation in discrete cell lattices. Journal of Mathematical Biology 43:411-445.
  • Plahte E, Kjøglum S. 2005. Analysis and generic properties of gene regulatory networks with graded response functions. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena 201:150-176.
  • Veflingstad SR, Plahte E, Monk NAM. 2005. Effect of time delay on pattern formation: Competition between homogenisation and patterning. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena 207:254-271.
  • Gjuvsland A, Hayes B, Meuwissen T, Plahte E, Omholt S. 2007. Nonlinear regulation enhances the phenotypic expression of trans-acting genetic polymorphisms. BMC Systems Biology:1:32.
  • Gjuvsland A, Plahte E, Omholt SW. 2007. Threshold-dominated regulation hides genetic variation in gene expression networks. BMC Systems Biology 1:57.
  • Plahte E, Oyehaug L. 2007. Pattern-generating travelling waves in a discrete multicellular system with lateral inhibition. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena 226:117-128.
  • Veflingstad SR, Plahte E. 2007. Analysis of gene regulatory network models with graded and binary transcriptional responses. Biosystems 90:323-339.
  • Ironi L, Panzeri L, Plahte E. 2008. An Algorithm for Qualitative Simulation of Gene Regulatory Networks with Steep Sigmoidal Response Functions. In: Horimoto K, Regensburger G, Rosenkranz M, Yoshida H, editors. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. pp. 100-124.
  • Martens H, Veflingstad S, Plahte E, Martens M, Bertrand D, Omholt, SW. 2009. The genotype-phenotype relationship in multicellular pattern-generating models - the neglected role of pattern descriptors. BMC Systems Biology 3: 87.
  • Østby I, Øyehaug L, Einevoll GT, Nagelhus EA, Plahte E, Zeuthen T, Lloyd CM, Ottersen OP, Omholt SW. 2009. Astrocytic Mechanisms Explaining Neural-Activity-Induced Shrinkage of Extraneuronal Space. PLoS Comput Biol 5: e1000272.
  • Gjuvsland AB, Plahte E, Ådnøy T, Omholt SW (2010). Allele Interaction - Single Locus Genetics Meets Regulatory Biology. PLoS ONE 5(2):e9379