| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
In previous editorials, we emphasized the critical role of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex scientific challenges, [ 1 ] with a focus on bioinformatics, [ 2 ] image processing, [ 3 ] and medical signal analysis. [ 4 , 5 ] In this issue, we turn our attention to systems biology, as a convergence of biology, data science, advanced technologies, and artificial intelligence. Our aim is to highlight its transformative potential for advancing the future of medical research and precision medicine. Reductionism is a concept related to reducing and simplifying the complex behavior of phenomena into their fundamental components and principles. [ 6 ] Isaac Newton and René Descartes, along with many other notable scientists, agreed to the idea that we could explain the behavior of the whole system by studying its individual parts and components. The remarkable growth of biomedical knowledge in recent centuries has been largely based on such approach. [ 7 , 8 ] However, it is now well understood that biological systems would only be best inspected using a more holistic approach, which is incompatible with the reductionist point of view. [ 9 ] Biological systems are composed of interconnected components that not only link to each other, but also interact and communicate, and it is the nature and extent of these interactions that ultimately define the properties and functions of that system. A more holistic perspective is therefore required to help us define and recognize biological systems as a unified entity. [ 10 ] Systems biology is often seen in opposition to reductionist approaches because it is based on the idea that a whole system is greater than just the sum of its individual parts. Hence, the behavior of a system cannot be fully understood or predicted by examining the individual components in isolation. It instead focuses on the complex interactions between these components to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the system as a whole. [ 11 ] Modern systems biology can be considered as a combined and holistic study of biological systems based on analysis of very large data sets by complex mathematical models, computational methods, and bioinformatics and artificial intelligence tools. This interdisciplinary approach could lead to significant discoveries in various industries such as food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sections. [ 12 , 13 ] It also results in a major shift in the way we view biology and subsequently in medicine and healthcare systems, towards enabling personalized (precision) medicine in the near future. [ 14 ] Indeed, artificial intelligence will not revolutionize biomedical sciences without the adoption of a holistic approach known as systems biology. This approach integrates complex biological data to provide a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. As a result of the interdisciplinary nature of this field, various subfields have been defined, each with its own specific focus. A brief overview of the most important subfields of systems biology is presented in Table 1 . Table 1: A brief overview of the most important subfields of systems biology In recent years, the growth of medical research has been accompanied by two important factors. The first is the ability to rapidly and inexpensively produce large volumes of health-related big data, including the omics revolution and other types of relevant big data. The second is the knowledge and capability to analyze such big data using a wide spectrum of statistical methods, mathematical algorithms, and artificial intelligence software. The convergence of these two aspects, together with the systems biology approaches in biology, has led to a transformation of the theoretical and practical frameworks of biomedical sciences, to the extent that some consider it the latest paradigm shift in biomedical sciences. [ 15-17 ] Despite the progress made in systems biology, there are still several challenges that researchers must overcome to achieve better results in the near future. One of the biggest challenges is the need for further research to develop new and innovative methods that can better capture the complex interactions that occur within biological systems. To this end, researchers must develop new technical methods, particularly in the field of network topology, network dynamics, biological functions, etc. [ 18-20 ] Moreover, data quality and standardization are prerequisites of systems biology research. [ 21 , 22 ] Since systems approaches rely heavily on data, mostly as public databases, data validation is crucial to ensure that the information being used is accurate and reliable. Sensitive tools and hardware are also required to generate high-resolution dynamic data, such as quantifying the concentrations of various molecules in space and time. [ 23 ] The overall aim of this editorial is to argue that while systems biology has made significant progress in recent years, there are still numerous challenges that must be addressed. This issue contains a paper titled “Roadmap for a Systems Biology Initiative in Iran” which reports a roadmap to improve systems biology in Iran. [ 24 ] Although this roadmap is developed for Iran but may provide implications for other countries as well. In this spirit, we are pleased to announce that starting from the next issue Journal of Medical Signals and Sensors will be hosting a new section dedicated to the latest findings in the field of “Biomedical Informatics and Artificial Intelligence.” Authors are welcome to submit their research papers and we believe this will provide a platform for researchers to share their new discoveries and insights. We hope that our future publications will be a valuable resource for the scientific community and inspire further research in the field of systems biology and bioinformatics. Financial support and sponsorship This work was partly supported by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (62994). Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. |
| نویسندگان مقاله |
| Alireza Ani
1.Department of Bioinformatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2.Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
3.Medical Image and Signal Processing Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| Ahmad Vaez
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