Systems that require a driving force of some kind are very common in physical and biological settings. Driving forces in a biological context are usually referred to as rhythms, pulses or clocks. Here we are interested in the effect of adding a square wave periodic driving force to a biological model. This is intended to model inputs from biological circuits with all-or-none or switch-like resposes. We study a model of cell division proposed by Novak and Tyson. Our switched input is intended to model the interaction of the mitotic oscillator with an ultradian clock. We thoroughly characterize the behaviour as a function of the durations of the active and inactive phases. We also study a model of vein formation in plant leaves proposed by Mitchison. Pulsed hormonal release greatly accelerates vein formation in this model. / x, 105 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.