A book that should help to define Systems Biology

Systems Biology

Alberghina L. & Westerhoff, H.V., eds.

Springer Verlag

To be published in 2005 (after the FEBSSysBio2005 course)

Format:

‘Systems Biology is not the Biology of systems, nor is the chemistry/physics/molecular genetics of molecules in biological systems. It is the difference between the two. It studies how new properties that are functionally important for life, arise in interactions’. This is the definition that we (Lilia Alberghina and Hans Westerhoff) use. It is better however to define a field by examples and by statements of its leading authors. A number of key scientists in the Systems Biology field have therefore each:

• mentioned if and to what extent their definition of systems biology differs from the above
• described the method or findings they contributed to systems biology
• discussed recent developments and what needs to be done next in systems biology

The typical chapter topic

Each chapter integrates conceptual (theoretical) and experimental (factual, molecular) aspects of cell function; in each case the essence is to demonstrate what systems Biology is. For instance, how the approach taken by the author has shown that the system had properties that were not in the individual molecules and only arise when the molecules are together and active. These properties are of functional importance. Yet each author has given examples from her/his own specific field.

For the list of authors and contents, click here.