DNA to RNA to Proteins to Everything Else: The Greatest Short Story Ever Told
Bob Chapman, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
14 Sep 2007
Ecogenomics is a convenient descriptor for the application of advanced molecular tools to the study of higher levels of biological organization. It is a recognition of the fact that each level of biological organization is inextricably linked to the next higher level and beyond by a complex network of interactions. In this seminar we will begin to address these complex networks and argue that there are not as complex or at least not difficult to understand, as one might believe. We will begin with a discussion of network topologies and why complex systems must evolve to small world network topologies, the evidence that supports this conclusion ranging from the structure of transcript profiles, genetic diversity in natural populations to species distributions in ecosystems and perhaps beyond. As such complex systems whether they be biologically, physically or socially interconnected are governed or at least appear to be governed a very small set of permissible solutions and universal power law function govern all complex systems. We end with data generated by the Oceans and Human Health program at Fort Johnson that justifies these points of view.