Kaneko, Kunihiko. Life: an introduction to complex systems biology . Springer, 2006.
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The field of molecular biology was indeed pioneered with such a truly scientific motivation and spirit in attempting to find a theory of life. From the rise of molecular biology, now half a century has passed. So, we ask again, what is life? Has molecular biology given us a satisfactory answer to this question? Are we at least making steady progress toward finding an answer? If, on the other hand, we do not yet have an answer, can we say why this is? And if this is the case, can we introduce some new methodology and with this set up an effective research program? In this book, we hope to answer these questions. With this goal, in Chap. 1, we carry out a critical examination of the field of molecular biology. On the basis this discussion, in Chaps. 2 and 3, we briefly describe a complementary methodology from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. These three chapters lay the foundation of the book. In the remaining chapters, we apply in a concrete manner the method-ology laid out in the first three chapters to several specific problems. In each chapter we set up a general question associated with some universal property of life, and give an answer through a synergetic approach among theory, modelling, and experiments. The origin of reproductive cellular systems and the generation of genetic information are studied in Chap. 4. The universal properties of reaction networks allowing for self-sustained cellular reproduction are considered in Chaps. 5 and 6. In Chap. 7, we investigate the phenomena of cellular differentiation and robustness of development, while in Chap. 8 we present a treatment of stem cell systems and the irreversibility of differentiation through development. The generation of positional information and stable pattern formation are studied in Chap. 9. We consider evolution in relationship with plasticity of phenotype, measured by fluctuation in Chap. x10, while the problem of speciation (species differentiation) is studied as the genetic fixation of phenotype differentiation, by combining Darwinian process and dynamical systems with interaction, in Chap. 11. In Chap. 12, on the basis of the understanding gained from the preceding chapters, we reconsider the question of how living systems are to be comprehended, and formulate a phenomenological theory of biology. With this, we reconsider the question, what is life?