Usage of “so that”

Question

I am working on a paper, and the following phrasing was suggested:

In the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, nodes represent proteins and edges represent connections between them, based on experimental evidence. PPI networks are rich and complex, so that a mathematical model is sought to capture their properties and shed light on PPI evolution.

Is that a legal legitimate use of so that? How would you phrase it differently otherwise?

Answer 1

Yes, it is a valid use of “so that”.

so that: with the result that (it was overgrown with brambles, so that I had difficulty making any)

(New Oxford American Dictionary). Not to be confused with another use of so that, namely:

so that: with the aim that; in order that (they whisper to each other so that no one else can hear)

Answer 2

I think that wording was used to try and emphasize the complexity, but it does read a bit strangely.

The emphasis might have been better expressed something like the following:

... PPI networks are rich and complex, so much so, that a mathematical model is sought to capture their properties and shed light on PPI evolution.

Answer 3

I think it reads odd too, but not because of so that, but because of is sought.

I would have written: ...so that a mathematical model may be sought to capture their properties and shed light on PPI evolution.

Answer 4

"So that" doesn't sound right to me, it makes it sound like you're saying PPI networks are complex because a mathematical model is sought. Even if it were correct, it's needlessly verbose. A better phrasing might be:

PPI networks are rich and complex, and a mathematical model is sought to capture their properties and shed light on PPI evolution.

Answer 5

I think it means that a person did something to aim at a certain point. For example:

Sam did his homework so that he could play with his friend.

If so that is replaced with "to aim at" or "in order to", it would fit well since the three words mean the same thing. For example:

Sam did his work to aim at playing with his friends.
Sam did his work in order to play with with his friends.