Systems Biology

The computer and mathematical analysis and modelling of complex biological systems is known as systems biology. It is a biology-based interdisciplinary branch of study that focuses on complex interactions within biological systems and employs a holistic approach to biological research (holism rather than reductionism). Computational modelling of molecular systems and integrated interpretation of ever bigger postgenomic datasets are widely acknowledged as useful, if not necessary, components of biological research, and are used in a wide range of domains. Systems biology can be seen from a variety of perspectives. As a topic of research, it focuses on the interactions among the components of biological systems and how these interactions influence the system's function and behavior (for example, the enzymes and metabolites in a metabolic pathway or the heart beats). Although it is congruent with the scientific method, systems biology is frequently characterized in opposition to the so-called reductionist paradigm (biological organization). A common application of systems biology is metabolomics, which is the whole collection of all metabolic products, metabolites, in the system at the organism, cell, or tissue level, according to the interpretation of systems biology as using huge data sets with interdisciplinary tools.