Modeling Resource Competition and Host Burden in Engineered Cells

Synthetic gene circuits often reduce host cell performance because they compete for limited cellular resources such as ribosomes, RNA polymerase, and energy. This project aims to develop a mathematical model that quantifies how synthetic construct expression affects host growth, protein production, and system stability. Using differential equation–based modeling, the study will simulate resource allocation tradeoffs and identify thresholds beyond which engineered cells become unstable. The goal is to provide a predictive framework that can guide the design of more stable and efficient synthetic systems.