La biologia de sistemes: la biologia del segle XXI?

Authors

  • Eva Yus i Nájera
  • Maria Lluch i Senar
  • Luis Serrano i Pubul

Abstract

Systems biology: The biology of the XXI century? At the end of the 20th century a new world emerged in science, systems biology. This term that many consider a buzzword is now well established in the scientific community and we even have several institutes or departments in Europe and the United States bearing this name. However, scientists remain in a quandary about defining Systems Biology. Definitions range from collections of physiological data with quantified molecular parts lists (e.g. genes, expression levels, localizations) to abstract mathematical modelling of biological processes. The scale at which Systems Biology focuses is also a matter of contention: a tiny protein can be a complicated biological system (we still do not know how it folds) as is obviously an entire ecosystem with thousands of species. The term «Systems Biology» will probably broaden its meaning even further as it is now under the limelight and funding opportunities have to be taken seriously by very diverse scientific communities. In principle Systems Biology offers an opportunity to understand biological processes in a way in which we could modify and engineer them in a rational manner (Synthetic Biology). Systems Biology is here to stay and will open the way to new therapies, individualized medicine and, in combination with synthetic biology, to the rational engineering of living systems.

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Published

2012-03-01