Question

Explain the advantage of the systems biology approach to studying cancer versus the approach of studying a single gene at a time.

Short answer

The system biology aims to understand the cause and treatment related to cancer caused by multiple factors. In contrast, the single gene's behaviour that influences cancer development is considered in the approach to study a single gene.

Step-by-step solution

System biology

The experimental science that uses computational methods to deal with the complex structure and properties of biological entities is called system biology.

Examples of biological systems whose interactions are studied in system biology are living organisms, organs, and cell (life's elementary unit). The analysis of gene expression patterns to treat cancer is the application of system biology to medicine.

Cancer

The group of disorders characterized by the tissue growth regulation caused by uncontrollable cell growth in the body parts is called cancer. Examples of treatment approaches for cancer are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplant, cryoablation, and surgery.

Lifestyle (smoking and unhealthy diet), pathogen (bacteria and virus), genetic mutation, and other diseases like obesity and diabetes are common causes of cancer.

Advantage of system biology versus the single-gene study influencing cancer

The system biology focuses on multiple factors causing cancer, whereas these factors are ignored in the single-gene approach to study cancer rather than focus on a single gene.

The system biology approach does not study the isolated gene (cellular entity); instead, this approach considers the integrated system of multiple genes responsible for causing cancer.