Multivariate Networks in the Life Sciences.

Data in the life sciences is being obtained at a steadily increasing speed. Modern technology enables observing many of the fundamental building blocks of a cell such as genes and their activity or metabolites and their concentration, as well as many phenotypical parameters on a macroscopic level, such as shape, volume or tissue composition. The sequencing of a large number of genomes—the blueprints of life—enabled so-called post-genomics methods. The suffix ’-omics’ indicates the generation of data on a large, comprehensive scale. Genomics thus studies all genes and proteomics all proteins in a cell or a tissue. Recent developments have led to a staggering list of these omics technologies. Some of the more popular omics technologies and the data associated with them include: • Genomics: DNA sequence and genes • Transcriptomics: mRNA sequence and expression levels • Proteomics: protein sequence and expression levels • Metabolomics: metabolite concentrations • Interactomics: protein-protein interactions