Molecular networks come of age

摘要

The advent of sophisticated analytical tools enables the collective behaviour of networks of interacting molecules to be studied. The emerging field of systems chemistry promises to allow such networks to be designed to perform complex functions, and might even shed light on the origins of life.rnWhat is systems chemistry?rnIt's the study of complex systems, or networks, of molecules. Tools for analysing complex networks are being developed and employed in fields as diverse as computer science and sociology. By applying these tools to systems of interacting molecules - molecules that might link together into larger superstructures, or catalyse one another's formation - chemists can investigate how interactions between members propagate through networks, allowing complex behaviour to emerge.