Contextualizing Systems Biology

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This collective monograph contributes to a deeper understanding of the epistemic presumptions, sociocultural implications, and historical backgrounds of the emerging approach of systems biology. It provides empirically grounded insights into a paradigmatic shift in the biosciences for scientists across various interdisciplinary fields, including systems biology, synthetic biology, molecular biology, philosophy of science, sociology of science, and science and technology studies. The authors share the premise that science is a culturally and socially embedded practice, which not only defines our scientific culture but also draws innovation from its socio-cultural context. This dialectic relationship is central to the development of systems biology, seen as a successor to ‘-omics’ research and driven by high-throughput information technologies, alongside a growing need for holistic conceptualizations of complex biological processes. The title suggests an analysis of systems biology's development from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. The book explores a range of contexts, from cognitive frameworks and theoretical concepts to regulatory policies and practical applications within a European research project. By empirically examining these interconnected layers of systems biology, the work transcends current investigations into new biological approaches, offering an interdisciplinary and integrated perspective.