A biosystem or biological system is a group of molecules that interact in a biological system. One type of biosystem is a biological pathway, which can consist of interacting genes, proteins, and small molecules. Another type of biosystem is a disease, which can involve components such as genes, biomarkers, and drugs.
The NCBI BioSystems Database was developed to (1) serve as a centralized repository of data; (2) connect the biosystem records with associated literature, molecular, and chemical data throughout NLM’s Entrez system; and (3) facilitate computation on biosystems data. This is a remarkable resource for researchers interested in the biological sciences.
Help is available in 4 areas:
- Using BioSystems. A great place to get started. The About area provides a nice introduction to the records contained within this database along with some great examples, such as "find the pathways in which a given gene or protein is involved" and "retrieve 3D structures for proteins involved in a biosystem."
- BioSystem Tools. Features primers on some very powerful statistical tools including FLink, which handles large quantities of input and output data.
- Other Resources. Includes links to other databases, such as PubChem and BioAssay.
- NCBI BioSystems Database Help.