Translational Biomedicine

Introduction

Bioinformatics now entails the creation and advancement ofdatabases, algorithms, computational and statistical techniques,and theory to solve formal and practical problems arising fromthe management and analysis of biological data. Beforesequences can be analyzed they have to be obtained from thedata storage bank example the Genbank. DNA sequencing is stilla non-trivial problem as the raw data may be noisy or afflictedby weak signals. Algorithms have been developed for basecalling for the various experimental approaches to DNAsequencing. An unprecedented wealth of biological data hasbeen generated by the human genome project and sequencingprojects in other organisms. The huge demand for analysis andinterpretation of these data is being managed by the evolvingscience of bioinformatics.Bioinformatics is defined as theapplication of tools of computation and analysis to the captureand interpretation of biological data.

Analysis

The main tools of a bioinformatician are computer softwareprograms and the internet. A fundamental activity is sequenceanalysis of DNA and proteins using various programs anddatabases available on the world wide web. Anyone, fromclinicians to molecular biologists, with access to the internet andrelevant websites can now freely discover the composition ofbiological molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins by usingbasic bioinformatic tools. As medicine and technology continueto intersect, bioinformatics is the science that is driving thefuture forward. This distinct discipline is a hybrid that draws onboth biological and computer science expertise. As medicineand technology continue to intersect, bioinformatics is thescience that is driving the future forward.As bioinformatics emerges as its own distinctfield, there are anumber of positions those with proper qualifications can pursue.Some of the job titles in bioinformatics include:•Bioinformatics specialist: Professionals working in thiscapacity perform duties such as providing bioinformatics anddata analysis services, training on available tools and offeringscientificwriting assistance to researchers.•Bioinformatics research scientist: These scientists applyinformation technology and computer science in the study ofbiology. They research, study, analyze and process genomic andother forms of biological information using the theory ofbioinformatics to research and potentially uncover previouslyunknown information.•Bioinformatics analyst: These professionals analyze,manipulate and interpret large data sets for use in research.•Biology informaticssoftware engineer: Biology informaticsengineers’ tasks include creating or advancing software for usein bioinformatics research. They may work in experimentaldesign, help develop new tools to analyze and validate data, andseek ways to extend data acquisitioncapabilities.

Conclusion

Biomedical informatics lacks a clear and theoretically-groundeddefinition. Many proposed definitions focus on data,information, and knowledge, but do not provide an adequatedefinition of these terms. Leveraging insights from thephilosophy of information, we defineinformatics as the scienceof information, where information is data plus meaning.Biomedical informatics is the science of information as appliedto or studied in the context of biomedicine.