Reconstructing whole-cell models

With the completion of genome sequences and their subsequent annotation, we now have a ‘parts catalogue’ containing the functional activities of gene products. The full value of this catalogue comes from discovering how these parts work together. Conducting this reconstruction computationally creates virtual cells that encapsulate how the genotype of a cell leads to its observed phenotype under different environmental conditions. This article outlines how to build whole-cell models, which have applications in the understanding of disease processes, the identification of surrogate markers, drug metabolism, safety assessment and bioprocess design.