We propose a computational method to quantitatively evaluate the systematic uncertainties that arise from undetectable sources in biological measurements using live-cell imaging techniques. We then demonstrate this method in measuring the biological cooperativity of molecular binding networks, in particular, ligand molecules binding to cell-surface receptor proteins. Our results show how the nonstatistical uncertainties lead to invalid identifications of the measured cooperativity. Through this computational scheme, the biological interpretation can be more objectively evaluated and understood under a specific experimental configuration of interest.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.