Before revision: Mathematical models are increasingly being used to understand complex biochemical systems, but we rarely know the consequences of choosing one modelto another . Using algebraic techniques we study systematically the effects of intermediate (transient) complexes and provide a simple, yet rigorous mathematical classification of all models obtained from a core model by including intermediates.
After revision: Mathematical models are increasingly being used to understand complex biochemical systems, to analyze experimental data and make predictions about unobserved quantities. However, we rarely know the consequences of choosing one modelto another . Using algebraic techniques we study systematically the effects of intermediate (transient) complexes and provide a simple, yet rigorous mathematical classification of all models obtained from a core model by including intermediates.