What is Bioinformatics
Author: BhratBrij
Bioinformatics is a discipline which combines computer technology and biology to handle the immense biological data, mainly genetic information which has been produced over the years. It involves creating, managing and updating the databases which are warehouse of the biological information and the development of the tools used for analyzing and using this data. The information so gathered is then used for the discovery and development of gene based drugs. In 1978, the term bioinformatics was given by Paulien Hogeweg.
Bioinformatics provides a platform for two very divergent disciplines to come together and complement each other for a common purpose of locating, deciphering and studying the genome as a whole and not in bits and pieces. The scientists from the two fields who are a part of this discipline don’t always understand the other’s views and scope but they share the above stated common goal. In fact, by the application of the various technologies for gathering and analyzing data, they are deciphering more genetic codes than they had ever hoped for.
When the first genetic code was cracked, it paved the path for the mindboggling boom in molecular biology. However the work involved was very slow and cumbersome as the scientists could work on only one particular part or piece of the genetic code at a time and not the entire genome. Therefore, even after so much of work, they couldn’t get the entire picture. However with the help of bioinformatics, they came up with software which were very specific in what they did and could be used to do the same work quickly and with great accuracy. Bioinformatics combines the deeper understanding of various biological processes with specific programs which have excellent data mining and retrieval qualities.
A bioinformatician can’t be a person belonging to only one either the field of biology or computer technology, he needs have a fair amount of knowledge about both the disciplines. Only then will he be able to understand how to apply these programs and software to obtain and decipher the biological data he requires and what it means. If he is working on a hypothesis about the presence of a particular genetic pattern in a genome, he needs to have an understanding of the genome sequences and patterns. So that when he enter a sequence into the program and searches for a particular pattern or trend, he can retrieve it and see if it is present somewhere else in the same genome or another genome to find relativity.
For a person who is a computer whiz and can retrieve data form anywhere, to be successful in the bioinformatics field, he will have to have an understanding of molecular biology and chemistry. This will help him relate to his other coworkers in the same field. The bases of bioinformatics are the genes and the codes that they carry. A deeper insight of the DNA, RNA and the translation of the genetic code into proteins is the focal area of most the work and research in this discipline.
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