Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6 493 ways: the concept of life sciences, how science in general is conducted and the models by which health and health care are understood and realized. Conceptually over time, life sciences are transitioning from being an art to a science to an information technology to now, an engineering problem. The ways of science are also changing, both in how it is being conducted and in who is conducting it. The historical notion of science consisted of investigating and enumerating physical phenomena and doing hypothesis-driven trial and error experimentation. An evolving notion of science adds three additional steps to the traditional method to create a virtuous feedback loop: first, mathematical modeling as a means of more actively understanding phenomena and predicting outcomes [1], second, software simulation for conducting exponentially many experiments, possibly with the freedom to analyze broader emergences outside of the constraints of hypothesis-formation [2], and third, in some cases, demonstrating mastery of the phenomena by building real lab samples using synthetic biology and other techniques [3]. Who is conducting science is changing as the notion of being in a post-scientific society explains; innovation is occurring in more venues, not just governmental and industrial research labs but increasingly at technology companies, startups, small-team academic labs and by creative entrepreneurs and other individuals [4]. How health and health care are understood and realized is the third important way that the structure of life sciences is changing. Webster’s dictionary defines health care as the “efforts made to maintain or restore health especially by trained and licensed professionals” (http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/healthcare). Figure 1 takes this as a base and illustrates a new model of health and health care. The left column depicts the expanded definition of health and the continuum of health outcomes. The initial focus on illness cure is broadened to include the improvement or resolution of chronic ailments, the attainment of baseline health normalization, the prevention of unhealthy states and promotion of wellness, the enhancement of current genetic, physical and mental health and the notion of health possibly being a vehicle for creative self-expression. Figure 1. A new model of health and health care. Health outcomes Self-expression Enhancement Prevention Normalization Improvement Cure Self Actions Research Treat Intervene Experiment Track Measure Peers Professionals Measure Conditions Symptoms Genome Biomarkers Behavior Environment