Complementary roles for toxicologic pathology and mathematics in toxicogenomics, with special reference to data interpretation and oscillatory dynamics.

摘要: Toxicogenomics is an emerging multidisciplinary science that will profoundly impact the practice of toxicology. New generations biologists, using evolving toxicogenomics tools, generate massive data sets in need interpretation. Mathematical tools are necessary to cluster and otherwise find meaningful structure such data. The linking this gene functions disease processes, finally generation useful interpretation remains a significant challenge. training background pathologists make them ideally suited contribute field toxicogenomics, from experimental design Toxicologic pathology, discipline based on pattern recognition, requires familiarity with dynamics processes interactions between organs, tissues, cell populations. Optimal involvement toxicologic they communicate effectively many other scientists critical for effective application complex societal problems. As noted by Petricoin III et al (Nature Genetics 32, 474-479, 2002), cooperation among regulators, sponsors experts be essential realizing potential microarrays public health. Following brief introduction role mathematics "data interpretation" perspective pathologist briefly discussed. Based oscillatory behavior liver, importance understanding addressed, approach learning "later life" provided. An pathology mathematicians involved equally critical, as both transforming into knowledge.