Oscillatory dynamics in a gene regulatory network mediated by small RNA with time delay

A genetic regulatory network mediated by small RNA with two time delays is investigated. We show by mathematical analysis and simulation that time delays can provide a mechanism for the intracellular oscillator. By linearizing the system at the positive equilibrium and analyzing the associated characteristic equation, the asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium is investigated and Hopf bifurcations are demonstrated. Furthermore, the direction of Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions are determined by the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem for functional differential equations. Finally, some numerical simulations are carried out for illustrating the theoretical results.