The Mechanics Of Life: A Closer Look At The Inner Workings Of Nature (systems Biology-theory, Techniques And Applications)

This book is devoted to current ideas and developments in the biological sciences which stretch into fields such as engineering, medicine, quantum physics, computer modeling and genetics. In the past couple of years, biology and medicine have significantly evolved. The picture of the solitary biologist taking samples from the field and working in a lab with test tubes and chemical apparatus is a thing of the past. Today, bio-labs are filled with scientists across various disciplines like physics, mathematics and engineering. Most equipment are completely automated and robotic. They are often controlled by powerful computers acquiring and processing vast amounts of data for rigorous analysis. These advances have sped up the rate at which research is done in those fields. The topics presented in this book are simplified versions of these advances. Focusing on the “how it works” explanation, the notions presented here are made easy and simple to follow. Besides current research, the book elaborates on novel innovations in bio-related research – e.g., ecosystem simulators, robotic surgery, natural experimentation and state-of-the-art instrumentation. Social and economic aspects of modern biology and medicine are also explored throughout this book; touching on issues related to disease spread, medical efforts and best scientific practices. The final part of this book walks through the mechanisms involved in the evolution of life on our planet. Along these lines, the evolution of Homo sapiens is briefly visited. In essence, this book involves taking a closer look at the mechanics of life. Contents 7 Preface 9 References 11 Acknowledgments 13 Chapter 1 15 Parasites: Complexity beyond Evolution 15 In Search of Microbes 15 A Parasitic Beginning 22 Host Control 27 In Transit 30 The Power of Extended Phenotypes 32 Fragile Biodiversity 34 Ecological Engineering and Large Blues 40 Simulating the Ecosystem 42 Gaining from Natural Experiments 45 In Brief 50 References 50 Web Sources 56 Chapter 2 57 Antibiotics, Vaccines and Epidemics 57 The Journey of Antibiotics 57 How Antibiotic Resistance Works 61 Teixobactin and the iChip 63 Evolutionary Arms Race 65 Epidemics versus Medical Efforts 68 Economics of Disease Spread 70 Psychological Feedback 73 Lost in Publication 77 Accentuating the Positive 81 Democratizing Science 84 In Brief 87 References 87 Web Sources 91 Chapter 3 93 Accounting for Genes 93 Answering the Ultimate Question 93 Memories, Genes and Mad Cow Disease 99 Living Computers 104 Genetically Engineering Medicine 109 Artificial Life 112 Gene Editing 114 Directing Evolution 118 Onwards with Genetic Engineering 122 Transgenic Food 124 Our Kind of Virus 128 In Brief 132 References 132 Web Sources 137 Chapter 4 139 Physics of Life 139 Little Differences Matter 139 Soup for Starters 145 Keeping It Organized 147 Insect Engineers 150 Valuable Feedback 152 The Attractor Factor 154 Critical Lines in the Ecosystem 157 Patterns of Complexity 160 The Gaming Evolution 164 Evolution In Silico 167 Rise of Machine Intelligence 171 Helping with Dementia: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS 176 Feeling Electric 180 Lifecycle of Ideas 183 Herding Effect and Zombie Ideas 186 Robot Surgeons 191 Therapeutic Robots 195 In Brief 199 References 200 Figures Source 209 Chapter 5 211 Stranger Things in Life 211 The First Quantum Biologists 211 Technological Revolution 219 Quantum Efficiency 224 Eau de Quantum? 227 Avian Navigators 230 Zooming-in on Evolution 235 Tinkering with Life 241 Turning Back the Clocks 246 More Curiosities 253 Rise, Red as Dawn 256 Wheels within Wheels 260 All This and Brains Too 265 In Brief 270 References 271 Websites 278 Final Remarks 279 Author Contact Information 283 Index 285 Blank Page 2