Components of Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics comprises three components:

1. Creation of databases:

This involves the organizing, storage and management the biological data sets. The databases are accessible to researchers to know the existing information and submit new entries, e.g. protein sequence data bank for molecular structure. Databases will be of no use until analysed.

2. Development of algorithms and statistics:

This involves the development of tools and resources to determine the relationship among the members of large data sets e.g. comparison of protein sequence data with the already existing protein sequences.

3. Analysis of data and interpretation:

The appropriate use of components 1 and 2 (given above) to analyse the data and interpret the results in a biologically meaningful manner. This includes DNA, RNA and protein sequences, protein structure, gene expression profiles and biochemical pathways.

Bioinformatics and the Internet:

The internet is an international computer network. A computer network involves a group of computers that can communicate (usually over a telephone system) and exchange data between users. It is the internet protocol (IP) that determines how the packets of information are addressed and routed over the network. To access the internet, a computer must have the correct hardware (modem/ network card), appropriate software and permission for access to network. For this purpose, one has to subscribe to an internet service provider (ISP).

World Wide Web (www):

www involves the exchange of information over the internet using a programme called browser. The most widely used browsers are Internet explorer and Netscape navigator.

Applications of Bioinformatics:

The advent of bioinformatics has revolutionized the advancements in biological science. And biotechnology is largely benefited by bioinformatics. The best example is the sequencing of human genome in a record time which would not have been possible without bioinformatics.

A selected list of applications of bioinformatics is given below:

i. Sequence mapping of biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins).

ii. Identification of nucleotide sequences of functional genes.

iii. Finding of sites that can be cut by restriction enzymes.

iv. Designing of primer sequence for polymerase chain reaction.

v. Prediction of functional gene products.

vi. To trace the evolutionary trees of genes.

vii. For the prediction of 3-dimensional structure of proteins.

viii. Molecular modelling of biomolecules.

ix. Designing of drugs for medical treatment.

x. Handling of vast biological data which otherwise is not possible.

xi. Development of models for the functioning various cells, tissues and organs.