title: The Convergence of Systems and Reductionist Approaches in Complex Trait Analysis.
abstract: Research into the genetic and environmental factors behind complex trait variation has traditionally been segregated into distinct scientific camps. The reductionist approach aims to decrypt phenotypic variability bit by bit, founded on the underlying hypothesis that genome-to-phenome relations are largely constructed from the additive effects of their molecular players. In contrast, the systems approach aims to examine large-scale interactions of many components simultaneously, on the premise that interactions in gene networks can be both linear and non-linear. Both approaches are complementary, and they are becoming increasingly intertwined due to developments in gene editing tools, omics technologies, and population resources. Together, these strategies are beginning to drive the next era in complex trait research, paving the way to improve agriculture and toward more personalized medicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrative and Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Evan G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrative and Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: admin.auwerx@epfl.ch.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auwerx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics