text: These circuits can be modelled in silico to predict the dynamics of a genetic system. Having constructed a computational model of the natural circuit of interest, one can use the model to make testable predictions about circuit performance. When designing a synthetic circuit for a specific engineering task, a model is useful for identifying necessary connections and parameter operating regimes that give rise to a desired functional output. Similarly, when studying a natural circuit, one can use the model to identify the parts or parameter values necessary for a desired biological outcome. In other words, computational modelling and experimental synthetic perturbations can be used to probe biological circuits. However, the structure of the circuits have shown to not be a reliable indicator of the function that the regulatory circuit provides for the larger cellular regulatory network.