Speaker
Petter Minnhagen
(University of Umeå)
Description
A simple general null-model, the Ikea network, is described
and its properties are investigated. This network is argued to
be the appropriate network for a random assembling of links,
such that both which link is attached to which and the time-
order are all distinct random possibilities. From this point of
view it is the extreme opposite of preferential attachment. This
network is discussed in the context of metabolic networks,
where the metabolism of an organism is reduced to a network
of substances. The striking agreement between the Ikea net-
work and the metabolic networks implies that the null model
catches the overall features. Using the network structure
measures clustering and assortativity, a small difference is
nevertheless identified and is argued to imply a possible
evolutionary pressure. However, this difference is only
manifested in a slight difference in the degree distribution and
seemingly not in any particular network design.
