Systems Biology: The synergistic interplay between biology and mathematics

Abstract

Systems Biology is a nascent field that arose from the technology driven omics measurement revolution. It goes beyond mere data analysis and focuses on the biological behaviour emerging from the dynamic interactions between system components that are organized in a hierarchical and highly connected manner. Mathematical models have been used as a conceptual framework to study such systems and their impact is maximal when there is a synergistic interplay of the models with experimental data and biological domain knowledge. The review provides an introduction to the modelling process and selectively highlights manuscripts that have strong biological impact.La biologie des systèmes est un domaine qui est apparu récemment avec la révolution dans les mesures omiques dues aux progrès technologiques. Ce domaine va au-delà de la simple analyse et s'intéresse au comportement biologique venant des interactions dynamiques entre les composantes de systèmes qui sont organisées de façon hiérarchique et hautement interreliées. Des modèles mathématiques ontété utilisés comme cadre conceptuel afin d'étudier ces systèmes, et leur impact est maximal lorsqu'il y a une interrelation synergétique entre d'une part, les modèles, et d'autre part, les données expérimentales et les connaissances dans le domaine biologique. Cette revue de la littérature fournit une introduction aux articles mettant en lumière les procédés de modélisation et la sélectivité et qui ont un fort impact biologique.

An agent-based model to investigate microbial initiation of Alzheimer’s via the olfactory system

“…Proposed outline of C. pneumoniae infection propagation and effects as adapted from mouse study described in Little et al [11] approach taken in our model development mirrors the "topdown" approach often used in systems modelling. In this approach, a model is developed by starting from the larger system level and adding detail as needed to account for system complexities [28].…”

“…Additionally, entities with complexities not substantially relevant for our model were lumped together [28]. For example, the olfactory system exhibits widespread connectivity [34].…”

Using Systems Biology and Mathematical Modeling Approaches in the Discovery of Therapeutic Targets for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

“…Mathematical models are initially generated using available experimental data and domain knowledge. Through a process involving multiple iterations, the model assumptions are revised and refined in order to develop improved models that better fit the biological network (Dhurjati and Mahadevan 2008). This adaptability of mathematical models also makes it possible to integrate multiple pathways into a network model.…”

“…Mathematical modeling of networks is an essential facet of systems biology (Dhurjati and Mahadevan 2008). When studying complex and dynamic interactions, experimental and/or mathematical approaches provide a means to explore and understand the system of networks in question (Dhurjati and Mahadevan 2008). These approaches can also highlight ways in which this system can be manipulated.…”

The control systems engineering foundation of traditional Indian medicine: the Rosetta Stone for Siddha and Ayurveda

“…For over a century, control systems engineering principles have enabled major technological advancements from the thermostat to the aircraft. Systems biologists acknowledge that the modelling of the human body, far more complex than any aircraft or man-made engineering system, also requires these same principles (Dhurjati and Mahadevan, 2008;Mandel et al, 2004;Decraene et al, 2007). The systems architectures of Siddha and Ayurveda, developed over 5,000 years ago (Mukherjee and Wahile, 2006;Fritts et al, 2008;Patwardhan et al, 2005) in the Indian subcontinent, reveal an integrative and multilayered framework that modern systems biology aims to replicate and understand (Patwardhan et al, 2008).…”