Understanding the Dynamics of Biological Systems : Lessons Learned From Integrative Systems Biology

Systems biology has risen as a direct result of the limitation of conventional (reductionistic) biology to understand complex phenomena emerging as a result of dynamic and multiscale biological interactions. By applying mathematical and computational models, systems biologists integrate the elementary processes into a coherent description that allows them to predict and characterize the systems-level properties and behavior of complex biological phenomena. As the field of systems biology matures, we are beginning to see practical answers to real biological problems. It is timely to step back and review the insight obtained from a systems biology approach by presenting an overview of current research. The book encompasses the key disciplines of biology, mathematics, and information technology that contribute to systems biology. It introduces some of the main methods and techniques of systems biology and assesses their contributions based on case studies. The biological phenomena investigated include tissue organization, hormonal control, bacterial stress response, tumor growth and cellular metabolism. Each chapter serves simultaneously as design blueprint, user guide, research agenda and communication platform. The book is targeted at an interdisciplinary audience consisting of students, teachers, researchers, developers, and practitioners in life science, mathematics, computer science and cognate areas. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Effects of Protein Quality Control Machinery on Protein Homeostasis....Pages 1-17 Metabolic Network Dynamics: Properties and Principles....Pages 19-37 A Deterministic, Mathematical Model for Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle....Pages 39-58 Modeling Transport Processes and Their Implications for Chemical Disposition and Action....Pages 59-82 Systems Biology of Tuberculosis: Insights for Drug Discovery....Pages 83-110 Qualitative Analysis of Genetic Regulatory Networks in Bacteria....Pages 111-130 Modeling Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Colonies Using Agent-Based Approach....Pages 131-154 Modeling the Spatial Pattern Forming Modules in Mitotic Spindle Assembly....Pages 155-173 Cell-Centred Modeling of Tissue Behaviour....Pages 175-194 Interaction-Based Simulations for Integrative Spatial Systems Biology....Pages 195-231 Back Matter....Pages 233-238 This book is intended as a communication platform to bridge the cultural, conceptual, and technological gap among the key systems biology disciplines of biology, mathematics, and information technology. To support this goal, contributors were asked to adopts an approach that appeals to audiences from different backgrounds.