Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Biology is “suddenly awash in genome-based data
…
” and “
…
is in the midst
of an intellectual and experimental sea change,” which is revolutionizing the
type of questions biologists can ask (
Vukmirovic and Tilghman 2000
). The future
may become even more awash in genomic data soon: BGI, formerly known
as Beijing Genomics Institute, has as its goal to “sequence every living thing
on earth” (
Science
2011, Callaway 2011
). Currently, BGI is able to produce the
equivalent of 1500 human genomes each day using 160 sequencers (Illumina
and SOLiD). It also provides analysis services and storage services (
Nature
2011
).
Leroy Hood, the leader of a team that invented the automated Sanger
sequencer, noted recently “The future will be the study of the genes and pro-
teins of organisms in the context of their informational pathways or networks”
(
Smaglik 2000
). The next phase may be termed “systems genetics.” The goal
of systems genetics is to understand “how genetic information is integrated,
coordinated, and ultimately transmitted through molecular, cellular, and physi-
ological networks to enable the higher order functions and emergent proper-
ties of biological systems (
Ala-Korpela et al. 2011, Nadeau and Dudley 2011
).
Systems genetics could produce predictions that result in experiments to confirm
function.
In the near future, it should be possible to monitor simultaneously the expres-
sion of genes at the RNA or protein level, all possible protein-protein interac-
tions, all alleles of all genes that affect a particular trait, and all protein-binding
sites in a genome. It soon could be feasible to describe the properties of whole
organisms in a precise and quantitative way.
Changing our focus in biology from a reductionist approach to an integrative
one provides new challenges (
Palsson 2000
). Given the complexity of an organ-
ism, mathematical models and computer simulations will be required to study
the integrated function of multiple gene products. Models will be required to
analyze, interpret, and predict the relationship between genotype and pheno-
type. An early example of this integrative approach is a model that provides a
comparative mathematical analysis of the genome and metabolic networks of
43 organisms representing the three domains of life (
Jeong et al. 2000
).
An integrative approach to biology will rely on improved bioinformatics
methods and whole-systems analyses to understand the properties of cellular
and tissue functions, and focus on the “
emergent properties
” properties that
arise from the whole rather than the individual parts (
Palsson 2000
). Future
geneticists will need to enhance their computer skills and have a higher level
of mathematical and informatics training. The enormous increase in knowledge
of genomics during the 21st century will have at least as large an effect on the
