Big Think

We can cure almost all human diseases. Here’s how. | Albert-László Barabási

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Sep 28, 2025
Albert-László Barabási, a leading network scientist, dives into how network science can create a biological map revolutionizing medicine. He argues that simply mapping genes is insufficient without understanding their interactions. Barabási highlights how mutations disrupt cellular networks, leading to diseases. He envisions a future where personalized network diagrams guide doctors in creating precise, tailored treatments, minimizing side effects and improving patient outcomes. The conversation uncovers exciting possibilities for individualized medicine.
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INSIGHT

Map Versus Phone Book

  • The Human Genome Project gave us a list of genes, not the map of cellular interactions.
  • Network medicine fills the gap by mapping how genes and proteins connect inside cells.
INSIGHT

Diseases Break Interactions

  • Disease-causing mutations often break specific interactions in the subcellular network.
  • Missing interactions act like a screw not going into its hole and disable cellular machines.
INSIGHT

Robust Yet Fragile Networks

  • Cellular networks are robust to random errors but fragile to targeted attacks on hubs.
  • Removing a few major hubs can fragment the network into tiny, nonfunctional pieces.
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