Scale‐free networks in biology: new insights into the fundamentals of evolution?*

Abstract Scale‐free network models describe many natural and social phenomena. In particular, networks of interacting components of a living cell were shown to possess scale‐free properties. A recent study (1) compares the system‐level properties of metabolic and information networks in 43 archaeal, bacterial and eukaryal species and claims that the scale‐free organization of these networks is more conserved during evolution than their content. BioEssays 24:105–109, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.