Abstract :
System-oriented biological research (Systems Biology) is a vibrant field which aims to establish the higher-order principles behind complex multi-cellular processes. This classic theme of the Life Sciences was recently reinforced with a new armamentarium of high-throughput molecular tools. These omics approaches (´omes´, greek for ´complete´) allow us to now study biological behaviour in unprecedented width and detail. Consequently, Systems Biology is seen to bear the potential for major discoveries in the Life Sciences.