Bioinformatics

The application of computer technology to the management of

biological information

http://www.bioplanet.com/whatis.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformaticshttp://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.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics

Major Research Areas

• Sequence analysis– Shotgun sequencing

• Genome annotation• Computational evolutionary biology• Literature analysis• Analysis of gene expression• Analysis of regulation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics

Major Research Areas

• 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