Systems biology strives to understand biological processes and functions
at the level of whole systems. A systems approach to biology merges
concepts and technologies from the biological, physical, and computational
sciences to enable simultaneous explorations of complex interactions
at many levels of biological function. This strategy will one day
allow us to predict how cells behave and respond to changes in their
environment.
Systems Biology promises rich societal
benefits in better drug design, accelerated contaminant remediation, energy
production, and more effective responses to biological pathogens. The greatest
benefit will be a profound understanding of the cycle of life, from the
origins of bacteria to the galaxies of molecular interactions that comprise
human life.
Systems Biology in the Physical Biosciences Division
The multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to large biological challenges
is the foundation of the Physical Biosciences Division. This concept is
formally reflected in our Systems Biology Department and its primary research
program, the Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival (VIMSS).
The inaugural project for VIMSS is a $36.6 million study for Genomes
to Life, a national initiative in systems-level biology from the Department
of Energy's Office of Science/Biological and Environmental Research. VIMSS
supports an integrated program to understand and predict the ability of
micro-organisms to respond to and survive in highly contaminated environments.
This research aims to provide scientific breakthroughs that will greatly
reduce the time and expense of remediating the nation's waste sites. In
doing so, scientists will better understand the structure and action of
these microbes and how they can be redesigned for exciting new purposes.
VIMSS investigators are also developing projects to investigate microbial
systems with possible applications to detection, remediation, disease
therapy, nanotechnology and fundamental research applicable to counter-terrorism.
Contacts:
Adam Arkin, Principal Investigator, Department Head, Systems Biology,
Berkeley Lab
Terry Hazen, Department Head, Microbial Ecology & Environmental Engineering
Department, Earth Sciences Division, Berkeley Lab
Jay Keasling, Professor of Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley
