Introduction: Cellular Rhythms and Networks in Systems and Dynamical Medicine

Abstract

Temporal elements such as rhythms are essential properties of biological organisms. Rhythmic physiological and psychological activities are maintained on the basis of complex interactions among components at various spatiotemporal levels from molecules to cells and organisms, from seconds to days and years. A systems biology perspective is necessary to understand the dynamical patterns and to characterize their functions, targets, and interactions. Studies of the biological rhythms at different levels such as the cellular level may have profound implications for health care. The development of systems and dynamical medicine would address the timely changes in the whole system. Such approaches would enable the establishment of systemic models for psychophysiological and pathological oscillations and feedback loops. The identification of the clusters of robust biomarkers such as cellular rhythmic networks may help improve the accuracy in the risk identification and prediction of disease progression. The development in systems biology based on both experimental and computational technologies would allow for the translation of the spatiotemporal models into the clinical practice of personalized and preventive medicine.