Lecture 3 - Systems Biology Slides (September 16, 2024) PDF

LECTURE 3 SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 SYSTEMS BIOLOGY What are the Biological Concepts of Health from the Systems Biology Perspective of the Adult Human? 20  1. Each adult human can be considered as a unique biological system....

LECTURE 3 SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 SYSTEMS BIOLOGY What are the Biological Concepts of Health from the Systems Biology Perspective of the Adult Human? 20  1. Each adult human can be considered as a unique biological system. Our emergent properties as an adult human make us unique, despite our remarkable genetic similarity to other species! Chimpanzees (98%++ genetic homology) Fruit flies (65% genetic homology) Our emergent properties produce incredible variation among individuals within the human species, in spite of 99.9% genetic homology. An emergent property is a property which a collection or complex system has, but which the individual members do not have. 21 The 7 Characteristics of Life: Cellular organization (being made of cells) Ability to reproduce Growth and development Energy use (metabolism) Maintain homeostasis Responsive to the environment Pass traits to offspring  “We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.” Stephen Hawking What makes humans the ‘unique-ier-est’ of all animal species? This is a TED Talk by Dr. Robert Sapolsky, professor of Biology and Neuroscience at Stanford University. He is world renowned as primatologist (studies baboons) who studies the effect of ‘stress’ on health. See: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_sapolsky_the_uniqueness_of_humans 23  2. The adult human biological system has a Control and Communication Network (CCN) that coordinates our functions i.e., our “networking”. The Components of the CCN, which all interact, are: The Central Nervous System Brain and Spinal Cord The Peripheral Nervous System Somatic (voluntary) Nervous System Autonomic (involuntary) Nervous System The Endocrine System Endocrine Tissues and Exocrine Glands Hormones The Support and Defense System Support, movement, maintenance, repair, adaptation, defenses (non-specific and specific) Notice we’re not using the usual anatomical/physiological distinctions of musculoskeletal system, GI system, cardiorespiratory system, etc. In fact, almost any tissue could be included under “Endocrine System” as most tissues release peptides, hormones, etc. that affect other tissues. 24 3. The CCN controls and processes information flow in the adult human. Properties of the CCN: v It controls and coordinates the function of all physiological systems and individual organs, including itself. v It is always ‘on’. Cruse et al. Lancet. Volume 378, Issue 9809, 17 December 2011–6 January 2012, Pages 2088–2094 Bedside detection of awareness in the vegetative state: a cohort study. v It is distributed throughout the entire body. v Each component of the network has multiple functions; the network has redundancy. v Information flow within the network is via chemical-based, cell-cell communication. v In this view, the mind is not separate from the body, i.e. emotions and thoughts are also biochemically-based v The four major CCN components are not separable 25 4. The CCN is the focal point of health in the adult human. The CCN is the integrator of inputs to health, disease and aging – genetics, environment and lifestyle; the CCN is the integrator of output to the seven dimensions of health. Genetics **7-dimensional health Spiritual Physical *Lifestyle (and Occupational Mental Healthcare Behaviours) Environmental Social Environment Emotional 26 5. Aging and disease are processes which represent compromised function/structure of the CCN. Many disease processes result from a diminished/abnormal function of the CCN… Examples, with primary portion of the CCN affected: Diabetes, atherosclerosis – Endocrine, Support and Defense System Cancer, autoimmune disease – Support and Defense Depression, ADHD – Central Nervous System There is a reduced function of the CCN with aging… Examples, with primary portion of the CCN affected: Impaired memory, Alzheimer’s - Central Nervous System Diminished touch sensitivity – Peripheral Nervous System Impaired wound healing capacity – Support and Defense 27 6. A Systems Biology INTEGRATED approach to health, disease and aging should enhance medical and healthcare practice. http://p4mi.org/ P4 Medicine personalized, predictive, preventive, participatory Which one do you think will be the biggest challenge within the P4 Medicine Paradigm? 28 Can personalized interactive medicine go too far? Can genetic/metabolic data be misleading? Can results be interpreted meaningfully? Will results lead to genetic discrimination? 29  TAKE-AWAY POINTS: We are unique from other species, and each other, in spite of a similar set of genes. We are controlled by a “Control and Communication Network”. Information flow is chemical-based. This network is a focal point and integrator of our health. Deterioration of this network occurs in disease and aging. P4 medicine involves a Systems Biology approach to health, as well as a more “individual” approach. But there are many things we still cannot reliably predict! 30