Advances bring new zest to biological research
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The late U.S. President Herbert Hoover once remarked, "New discoveries in science...will continue to create a thousand new frontiers for those who would still adventure." Though we have witnessed significant advances in science and technology, there is much to discover. Each new understanding prompts new questions and challenges.
Such is the case with biology, the study of life. It is a fantastic time to be conducting biological science. The sequencing of the human genome--and the genomes of plants, animals and microorganisms--has provided the blueprint or "parts list" of life. Modern research capabilities, such as high-throughput mass spectroscopy, allow us to quantify all the proteins in cells. Microarray technologies can contain all the genes from an organism, permitting us to understand when these genes are expressed, and chemical analysis tools assist us in quantifying all the metabolites or small compounds resulting from the function of the cells. The information produced through these processes, when integrated in models, provides a system-level understanding of life.
At PNNL, our focus is on building a solid foundation for scientific inquiry, which includes assembling outstanding research teams. Our Biological Sciences Division, with approximately 170 staff members, is making great strides, from studying the structure and functions of single proteins on up to understanding the behavior of cells, organisms and systems. Such knowledge has multiple benefits. For example, it is key to a project we're working on for the Department of Homeland Security. This project focuses on developing antibodies that are very specific to the botulinum toxin, which could be used to harm people. Our work could lead to a method for detecting this toxin in the environment. We foresee breakthroughs in other areas, from clean energy development to carbon management, environmental cleanup and human health.
While great minds are integral to scientific inquiry, at PNNL we have done a good job of providing our great minds with unique capabilities for addressing state-of-science research questions. For example, our ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometers and separations systems provide for rapid characterization of all proteins in a cell, revealing information that allows us to study how an organism is influenced by the environment and how it interacts with other organisms. Step by step, we are building an understanding of the operation of entire biological systems.
Additionally, we are developing instruments to collect data, technologies to connect the instruments to computer networks and mathematical models that will use the data. We need to build the underlying information and computational structure that will collect all data, interpret it and help display it in ways researchers can readily understand and use.
To continue to make fundamental science discoveries for the benefit of mankind, we must continue investing. We must demonstrate the science that could be and should be accomplished with new tools and ideas. Along these lines, the DOE Genome Program is developing 21st century user facilities, including a whole proteome and metabalome facility, which will measure all of a cell's proteins and metabolites in a high-throughput mode.
We also need to support integration, both of scientific disciplines and capabilities, and continue collaboration with other national laboratories and internationally recognized research organizations. We value the opportunity to share our ideas and unique capabilities in integrated team science. It is one of the ways we can help answer the perplexing questions of life and successfully explore the thousands of new frontiers before us.