How Scale-free Type-based Networks Emerge from Instance-based Dynamics

摘要

This article defines a growth model for complex networks based on the underlying dynamics reminiscent of biological systems. The model constructs a network consisting of vertices that correspond to biological types of elements and edges modelling the dynamical interactions that have occurred between instances of these types. It is shown that under endogenous birth-only dynamics a scale-free distribution can emerge with general properties similar to those in biological systems. We also show that, as in biology, the growth model can produce networks that are organised in a hierarchical, modular fashion.