Systems Biology, the quantitative study of biological processes as whole systems instead of isolated parts, represents the future of Biology in the 21st Century. The Human Genome Project has compiled a parts list of the genes and proteins that define a human. Yet, progress has been slow in understanding how these parts interact with one another to form systems that perform sophisticated biological functions. A systems level view is necessary to understand the complex dynamics that underlie the physiology in both the normal and diseased states. A systems approach will lead to novel therapeutic strategies to cure currently intractable human disorders.

The goal of Systems Biology is the construction and experimental validation of models that explain and predict the behavior of biological systems. In contrast to theoretical biology and computational biology, Systems Biology is characterized by a synergistic integration of theory, computation, and experiment. Only through this interdisciplinary approach can we achieve a multiscale, multiresolution understanding of complex biological processes.