Like strands in a spider’s web, biochemical pathways within a cell weave among each other–but scientific study sometimes focuses on one process at the expense of the larger, interconnected picture. One University of Wisconsin-Madison bacteriologist recognizes this trend, and tries to take a step back in her own research; she works to understand not just how biochemical processes work, but how they affect one another.

“What we do is basic science,” explains Diana Downs, a bacteriologist with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “It may not have an immediate effect on quality of life tomorrow, but we’re building the foundation of knowledge for future scientific generations.”

Downs recently used her broad approach to identify a protein that increases resistance to oxidative stress in bacteria. While the finding does not have a direct application to humans, human cells have to solve a similar problem–and increased knowledge about bacteria might provide insights into higher forms of life.

Downs notes that the newly discovered protein is not the only defense bacteria have against oxidative stress, but she says that it shows why her broad approach is important. Her lab was only able to identify a role for the protein by crippling other functions in the cell and working backwards to find the key pathway.

“A cell is a well-tuned machine,” Downs says. “If you take away one piece it might function okay, but if you take away a second piece things might fall apart. By stressing the entire system, you may uncover other weaknesses that seem unrelated.” And while this approach may take longer, she says that the ultimate reward is new insight into fundamental biological processes.

Downs describes her lab as a place for “old-fashioned, big-picture science combined with new technologies,” and believes that her methods are important in training the scientists of the future. “There”s often a feeling that technology will provide an answer for everything, but you need an underlying core of abilities to be an investigator. Computers only retool what we give them: they don’t come up with new ideas.”

And Downs’ approach seems to appeal to students. She”s a highly rated professor and advisor of both undergraduate and graduate students, and she has won several College teaching and advising awards.

“I look at science as a puzzle, in the sense that you can’t know just about one part,” she says. “I want my students to be intellectually intense, to think and pull together everything they know.”

Downs’ work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the James S. McDonnell Foundation, the S.C. Johnson Foundation and the State of Wisconsin.