Lecture 1

Question 1

Systems biology

Answer 1

• The systematic study of complex interactions in biological systems
• Considers interactions and dynamics (complexity)

Question 2

Emergent properties

Answer 2

Properties of an entire system (organism) that are not necessarily evident from examining the individual components

• Cannot be understood by looking at a single “item”
• They are properties of a group of “items”

“the whole is greater then the sum of our parts”

Question 3

Bioinformatics

Answer 3

• Main purpose is to predict outcomes or responses in a living system
• This involves complex mathematical modeling

Question 4

Genomics

Answer 4

Study of an organisms complete set of DNA

Question 5

Proteomics

Answer 5

Study of the set of all proteins produced within a biological unit; typically this could be an organ, an organ system, or the entire organism

Question 6

Metabolism

Answer 6

Study of metabolites within a given unit; e.g a cell, tissue, organ, organism

Question 7

Reductionist approach

Answer 7

Isolated model:

• Exquisite control over experimental conditions
• Can elucidate mechanisms
• More control

Question 8

Integrative approach

Answer 8

Integrated whole-body or organism approach

• Less control over variables
  -Viewed less mechanistic i.e what factor was the most important?
• But more real world

Question 9

When to use reductionism

Answer 9

• Conditions where one or few components are responsible for the overall behavior of the system
• Acute, simple diseases

Question 10

When to use a systems -oriented perspective

Answer 10

• Conditions where interactions between components are responsible for that overall behavior of the system
• Chronic, complex diseases