Computing Pathways to Systems Biology: Key Contributions of Computational Methods in Pathway Identification

Abstract

Understanding large molecular networks consisting of entities such as genes, proteins or RNAs that interact in complex ways to drive the cellular machinery has been an active focus of systems biology. Computational approaches have played a key role in systems biology by complementing theoretical and experimental approaches. Here we roadmap some key contributions of computational methods developed over the last decade in the reconstruction of biological pathways. We position these contributions in a 'systems biology perspective' to reemphasize their roles in unraveling cellular mechanisms and to understand 'systems biology diseases' including cancer.