Symbolic Systems Biology

Systems biology can best be described as the qualitative and quantitative study of biological processes as integrated systems rather than as isolated parts. Unlike traditional biology that has focused on single genes or proteins in isolation, systems biology is concerned with the study of complex interactions of many levels of biological information -- DNA, RNA, proteins, informational pathways --to understand how they work together. An emerging paradigm within systems biology is symbolic systems biology, in which biological phenomena such as signal transduction or metabolic pathways are modeled at the symbolic level of abstraction. Symbolic Systems Biology: Theory and Methods provides a single reference that describes the field and explains the methods of this growing area of study. Ideal for graduate students and researchers, this sourcebook includes the latest data from well-known contributors throughout this emerging field. A companion website includes links to the software and methods described in each chapter, allowing for easy download of the open-sourced software discussed, late-breaking news, and links to additional readings.