Systems Biology
The goal of modern systems biology is to describe and understand the operation of complex biological systems and ultimately to develop predictive models of human disease. “Systems biology” encompasses many different approaches, including the generation and analysis of large scale gene, protein and metabolite datasets; computer modeling of disease or organ system physiology; and the use of complex human cell systems themselves (e.g BioMAP technology) to interpret and predict the biological activities of drugs and gene targets.

Systems biology and drug discovery
”Systems biology” approaches offer the potential to improve decision making in pharmaceutical drug development by accelerating hypothesis-driven biology, the selection and validation of drug targets and lead compounds, and identification of surrogate markers for clinical studies. Complex cell systems technologies, such as BioMAP, integrate a broad range of disease-relevant human biology into the drug discovery process, informing target and compound validation, lead optimization, and clinical indication selection. For further reading, see Butcher EC, Berg EL, Kunkel, EJ. Systems Biology in Drug Discovery (in the Publications section).

Of Related Interest

At Home in the Universe: The Search for Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity, Stuart Kauffman

A New Kind of Science, Stephen Wolfram

Out of Control, Kevin Kelly

Chaos: Making a New Science, James Gleick

Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge, Edward O. Wilson

Fractals

Multiscale networking, robustness, and rigor, John Doyle, Caltech

Linked: The New Science of Networks, Albert-László Barabási

Mindwalk, Fritjof Capra

Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution, Ken Wilber

The Web of Life, Fritjof Capra