Systems biology is essential for P4 medicine, as are autopoiesis, network
theory and the concept of emergent properties. That is, the basic, fundamental unit of
life is the cell, not the atoms and molecules in the cell. Many new properties emerge
when atoms, molecules and ions are organized in a living cell. The functions of a cell
do not depend on just the properties of the individual molecules, but also on how these
molecules interact. Autopoiesis means self-production. It is a network of production
processes, in which the function of each component is to participate in the production
or transformation of itself and the other components in the network. The production
processes are circular. Life is a cyclic process that produces the components of a living
system. Based on the autopoietic theory of life, the biosphere of Earth is often thought
of as a living system. Bacteria can be thought of as the catalysts that maintain the
atmosphere in its present state, far from equilibrium, but stable, like homeostasis in a
cell, organ or organism. Networks permeate living systems. Living systems and the
internet are examples of a type of network called a scale-free network. These networks
are dominated by a few well-connected nodes, called hubs. Most nodes in the network
have a few connections, but a small number of nodes have a seemingly unlimited
number of connections. In the scale-free network that is in living cells, there are many
levels of organization. Each of them can be viewed as a network. There is a network of
genes, a metabolic network, a regulatory network and a cellular network.
Keywords: Autopoiesis, Gaia, Hubs, Nodes, Scale-free network, Systems
biology.
