Bernhard O. Palsson is the Galletti Professor of Bioengineering and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. For almost 30 years, his research has focused on the development of large-scale models of biological functions and their use to solve basic and applied problems in the life sciences. He has authored three previous textbooks.

Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. Network Reconstruction: 2. Network reconstruction: the concept; 3. Network reconstruction: the process; 4. Metabolism in Escherichia coli; 5. Prokaryotes; 6. Eukaryotes; 7. Biochemical reaction networks; 8. Metastructures of genomes; Part II. Mathematical Properties of Reconstructed Networks: 9. The stoichiometric matrix; 10. Simple topological network properties; 11. Fundamental network properties; 12. Pathways; 13. Use of pathway vectors; 14. Randomized sampling; Part III. Determining the Phenotypic Potential of Reconstructed Networks: 15. Dual causality; 16. Functional states; 17. Constraints; 18. Optimization; 19. Determining capabilities; 20. Equivalent states; 21. Distal causation; Part IV. Basic and Applied Uses: 22. Environmental parameters; 23. Genetic parameters; 24. Analysis of omic data; 25. Model driven discovery; 26. Adaptive laboratory evolution; 27. Model driven design; Part V. Conceptual Foundations: 28. Teaching systems biology; 29. Epilogue; References; Index.