On ‘‘systems biology’’: epistemological history of ideas, applications

Abstract

The name ‘‘systems biology’’ has a recent history. However, the holistic standpoint (the truth is in the whole) has a long duration history in physiology. More recently, systems biology has developed from the 1930s on, with Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s work, which resulted in a general systems theory. According to this viewpoint, the growth in complexity in society requires an approach in terms of open systems, a view which was in advance of his time since the thermodynamics of open systems and irreversible processes was developed by Ilya Prigogine and Paul Glansdorff in the 1950s. In France, it was introduced in systems biology in the 1960s. It inspired the work of a pioneer of systems biology, Jacques Ricard, who described the complexity of enzymatic reactions, and of other biologists, like Michel Thellier. Since then, systems biology has developed significantly and its field has diversified. Nowadays, it is badly needed to spread systemic ideas faced with the prevailing oversimplifications in society.