Main content

Systems Biology - Anthropocene Era

Quentin Cooper investigates the science of systems biology, in which computing and biology meet to create virtual organs for research.

Systems Biology
Advances in computing power have heralded a new frontier in science - where computing meets biology. UK funding for the new science of Systems Biology has topped £100 million in the last 3 years. Supercomputers are making very sophisticated replicas of biological process and even virtual organs – like the heart - to test new drugs and medicines. We meet one of the pioneers of this new science Denis Noble, and ask how this research will revolutionise medicine…Quentin is joined by Denis Noble, from the Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Oxford University and Jaroslav Stark from Centre for Integrative Systems Biology at Imperial College, University of London.

Anthropocene Era
How will geologists of the future look back at planet Earth? Scientists this week have called for us to officially enter a new geological era – called the Anthropocene to reflect manmade changes they say evidence of which can be seen in rocks, sea and ice across the world. Quentin meets Mark Williams from the Palaeobiology Group, Leicester University and Andrew Gale from the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Portsmouth University.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 31 Jan 2008 16:30

Broadcast

  • Thu 31 Jan 2008 16:30

Inside Science

Inside Science

Adam Rutherford explores the research that is transforming our world.