Defining systems biology: a brief overview of the term and field

Abstract

Here we provide a broad overview of the definition of the term "systems biology" as well as pinpoint specific events in biological research and beyond that are consistently cited to have contributed and led to the current science of in silico systems biology. Since there have been many reviews and historical accounts describing the term, it would be impossible to include all single references. However, we do attempt to provide a consensus vision of how the field has evolved and consequently the terminology that followed it. We also highlight the development and general acceptance, and use, of standards for model representations as being crucial to the continued success of the in silico systems biology field.