Bioinformatics
The application of computer
technology to the management of
biological information
http://www.bioplanet.com/whatis.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/bioinformatics/
Background
• 1978 Paulien Hogeweg
• the study of information processes in biotic
systems
• Evolved so much that the most pressing task
now involves the analysis and interpretation
of various types of data
• Primary goal = to increase the understanding
of biological processes
http://www.bioplanet.com/whatis.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics
Major Research Areas
• Sequence analysis
– Shotgun sequencing
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Genome annotation
Computational evolutionary biology
Literature analysis
Analysis of gene expression
Analysis of regulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics
Major Research Areas
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Analysis of protein expression
Analysis of mutations in cancer
Comparative genomics
Modeling biological systems
High-throughput image analysis
Structural bioinformatic approaches
– Prediction of protein structure
– Molecular interaction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics
Applications
• Molecular medicine
– More drug targets
– Personalized medicine
– Preventative medicine
– Gene therapy
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/bioinformatics/bioinf_realworld_1.html
Applications
• Microbial genome applications
– Waste cleanup
– Climate change
– Alternative energy sources
– Biotechnology
– Antibiotic resistance
– Forensic analysis of microbes
– Bioweapon creation
– Evolutionary studies
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/bioinformatics/bioinf_realworld_1.html
Applications
• Agriculture
– Crops
– Insect resistance
– Imporve nutritional quality
– Crops in poor soil and that are drought resistant
• Animals
• Comparative studies
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/bioinformatics/bioinf_realworld_1.html