Systems Biology

Homework Answers
1) Surface area of the Egg cell = 4(3.14)(50um)^2 = 31,400 um2 Surface area of the White blood cell = 4(3.14)(5um)2 = 314 um2 Surface area of the Streptococcus pneumoniae = 4(3.14)(0.5um)2 = 3.14 um2 2) Volume of the egg cell = (4/3)(3.14)(50um)3 = 523,333 um3 Volume of the White blood cell = (4/3)(3.14)(5um)3 = 523 um3 Volume of the Streptococcus pneumoniae = (4/3)(3.14)(0.5um)3= 0.523 um3 3) Egg cell SA:V ratio = 0.06 um-1 White blood cell SA:V ratio = 0.6 um-1 Streptococcus pneumoniaes = 6.0 um-1 4) As the diameter of a sphere increases, its surface area to volume ratio decreases. 5)a) Advantages include a more efficient uptake of nutrients as well as a more efficient removal of metabolic wastes. b) Reasons could include: cells could not survive because nutrients could not be absorbed efficiently, wastes could not be removed efficiently or that a larger size could simply trigger cell division.

Systems Biology
A system can be defined as a set of things working together to form a more complex whole. For example:

Systems Biology
The parts of the bicycle cannot be used for transport...

But when placed together they create a system that allows for transportation.

Cells as a system
Each organelle in a cell is like a part of a bicycle. Removed from the system, it does not have the properties of the system (i.e. a part of a cell is not alive just like a pedal is not a bicycle) The system is greater than the sum of its parts.

Emergent Properties
When a number of simple agents operate in an environment, their interaction creates behaviours that are more complex. For example:

Multicellular Organisms
Multicellular organisms also exhibit emergent properties as cell differentiation (the development of different types of cells in the body) leads to the development of cells that carry out different roles (similar to how organelles in cells themselves have different roles)

Multicellular Organisms
Multicellular organisms grow by adding more cells to their body. Every cell in a multicellular organism contains all the organisms DNA, but only certain genes are expressed during development. The expression of certain genes determines what kind of cell it will become in the adult organism.

Stem cells
Answer the following question while watching the video: 1) How are stem cells different from other cells in the body? 2) Where can you find stem cells in the human body? 3) How are embryonic stem cells different from adult stem cells? 4) What are some therapeutic uses of stem cells?

Homework
Read pages 14-16 in the textbook and answer questions #1-4 on page 16