What (the hell) is Bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and mathematics/statistics, aiming to analyze and interpret complex biological data. It involves the development and application of computational tools and techniques to better understand biological systems and processes, manage large datasets, and solve various problems in biology.
Sounds interesting? Here are a few random examples of biological processes one may try to better understand with the help of Bioinformatics:
- the genetic basis of cystic fibrosis by identifying mutations in the CFTR gene
- the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing the interaction between amyloid-beta and tau proteins
- the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations in increasing susceptibility to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
- the genes and regulatory pathways associated with drought resistance in rice, enabling the development of new rice varieties with improved drought tolerance
- potential drug targets for malaria by studying the Plasmodium falciparum genome and its metabolic pathways
In simple terms, bioinformatics can be seen as a way to make sense of the vast amount of data generated by biological research, including DNA sequences, protein structures, and gene expressions. Among others, it enables researchers to gain insights into the functions of genes and proteins, identify disease-causing mutations, and develop new therapeutic strategies.
Click here to read more, if you are interested.