A Method to Define Functions towards an Ontology Including Unknown Factors in Programed Cell Death

Abstract

In this study, we built an ontology for a biological phenomenon, programed cell death. In our ontology, each biological event in the phenomenon is composed of chain reactions containing biopolymers as minimal components. Therefore, we identified chain reactions and causality between events. We also classified functions that biopolymer interactions offer into two types. One of the types is defined as an elementary function which is composed of biopolymers, and the other as a mechanical function which is composed of elementary functions.