Systems Biology and Predictive and Preventive Medicine

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D.

President, Institute for Systems Biology; Seattle, WA

Abstract

The advent of the Human Genome Project has transformed biology by: (1) providing a genetics parts list of all genes and proteins, (2) fueling the contention biology is an informational science, and (3) catalyzing the emergence of biological information (e.g., rapid DNA sequencing or DNA chips). A new approach to biology, termed "systems biology," has emerged from this. Systems biology is centered on the idea one can study biological systems by delineating the relationships of all of their component elements and understand the resulting systems properties. I will discuss these important points, give several examples of systems approaches, and conclude by discussing the profound change systems biology will engender in medicine—moving us toward a predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.