ABSTRACT
The general classification ‘post-genomics’ encompasses a broad array of topic areas and approaches associated with generating higher biological meaning and function out of raw sequence data. The multiple approaches now engaged by the increasingly heterogeneous and overlapping sociotechnical networks of post-genomic research are envisioned to converge in systems-level models of human and other biological organisms. With accelerating knowledge of molecular biology, biochemical and physiological pathways, it now appears possible to envision systems understanding of the human organism grounded at the molecular level (Hunter 2003; Kitano 2002). According to Geoffrey Duyk in a recent Nature Genetics article:
The key challenge for the coming century will be to establish complete molecular descriptions of biological processes that are sufficiently quantitative and dynamic to allow their predictive modeling or simulation. Parallel development of enhanced data visualization tools, in addition to the ongoing challenges of data storage, computation and analysis will be increasingly central to these endeavors. In the end, we would like to be able to map gene activity onto physiological processes.
