ABSTRACT
Mitochondria are energy-production systems. Ribosomes are intracellular machines that make proteins from amino acids. Bacteria are amazingly complicated biological systems. For our forebears, securing food required an understanding of seasonal changes in the ecological systems of their surroundings. In spite of our long history of dealing with biological systems, our mastery of engineered systems far outstrips our capability to manipulate biological systems. A better understanding of ecological systems will yield pest- and drought-resistant food sources, as well as means for restoring polluted soil and water. The rewards of discovering and characterizing the general principles and the specifics of biological systems will truly be unlimited. In contrast to dealing with sophisticated, well-characterized engineered systems, the analysis of biological systems requires investigations in the opposite direction. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
