Modelling biological processes using differential predicate transition Petri nets

Approaches based on Petri nets are very promising for modelling and simulating biological systems. This paper presents a new modelling proposal for biological processes based on a differential predicate transition Petri net. The main idea consists on merging within a single model both discrete and continuous aspects of biological systems. For the obtained hybrid model, continuous processes arise as differential equations (specifying how the concentration levels of biological substances evolve over time) and a Petri net model is used to specify the discrete configurations of the system (which monitored the sets of differential equations) . An example of differential predicate transition Petri net is used to model and simulate the glucose and insulin concentration levels of diabetic patients during theirs daily activities.