Jacopin E, Sakamoto Y, Nishida K, Kaizu K, Takahashi K. An architecture for collaboration in systems biology at the age of the Metaverse.
NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024;
10:12. [PMID:
38280851 PMCID:
PMC10821884 DOI:
10.1038/s41540-024-00334-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
As the current state of the Metaverse is largely driven by corporate interests, which may not align with scientific goals and values, academia should play a more active role in its development. Here, we present the challenges and solutions for building a Metaverse that supports systems biology research and collaboration. Our solution consists of two components: Kosmogora, a server ensuring biological data access, traceability, and integrity in the context of a highly collaborative environment such as a metaverse; and ECellDive, a virtual reality application to explore, interact, and build upon the data managed by Kosmogora. We illustrate the synergy between the two components by visualizing a metabolic network and its flux balance analysis. We also argue that the Metaverse of systems biology will foster closer communication and cooperation between experimentalists and modelers in the field.
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