Introduction to Bioinformatics

Lecture 1: Overview of Bioinformatics and Molecular BiologyWhat is Bioinformatics?

Defining the terms bioinformatics and computational biology is not necessarily aneasy task, as evidenced by multiple definitions available over the web. A recentgoogle search for "definition of bioinformatics" returned over 43,000 results! Inthe past few years, as the areas have grown, a greater confusion into these twoterms has prevailed. For some, the terms bioinformatics and computationalbiology have become completely interchangeable terms, while for others, there isa great distinction. I'll throw my two cents in, based on what my experience hasbeen to the consensus use of these two terms.Computational biology and bioinformatics are multidisciplinary fields, involvingresearchers from different areas of specialty, including (but in no means limitedto) statistics, computer science, physics, biochemestry, genetics, molecular biology and mathematics. The goal of these two fields is as follows:

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Bioinformatics:

Typically refers to the field concerned with the collectionand storage of biological information. All matters concerned with biologicaldatabases are considered bioinformatics.

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Computational biology:

Refers to the aspect of developing algorithmsand statistical models necessary to analyze biological data through the aidof computers.In this respect, my understanding of bioinformatics and computational biologyfollows the NIH definitions listed below:

Bioinformatics:

Research, development, or application of computational tools and approachesfor expanding the use of biological, medical, behavioral or health data, including those to acquire,store, organize, archive, analyze, or visualize such data.

Computational Biology:

The development and application of data-analytical and theoreticalmethods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavioral, and social systems.

Others have offered various opinions into these definitions as well:http://kbrin.kwing.louisville.edu/~rouchka/definition.html

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Source: http://ccb.wustl.edu/

Bioinformatics = Hot Field

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So why is bioinformatics a hot field? One answer to this question is that it is tied to thehuman genome project which has generated a lot of popular interest. Various advancesin molecular biology techniques (such as genome sequencing and microarrays) has led toa large amount of data that needs to be analyzed. Now that we are close to having thehuman genome finished, what does it all mean? That’s where bioinformatics steps in.Bioinformatics can lead to important discoveries as well as help companies save time andmoney in the long run. In addition, there needs to be methods to manage large amountsof data. One of the biggest reasons for bioinformatics being a hot field is the old supplyand demand adage. There just are too few people adequately trained in both biology andcomputer science to solve the problems that biologists need to have solved.

Introduction to Molecular Biology

(For a good overview of this topic, please read:http://www.ebi.ac.uk/microarray/biology_intro.html

)In order to be a good computational biologist, it is important to understand theterminology and basic processes behind the biological problems. Many interesting problems arise out of sequence analysis. There are two different types of biologicalsequences studied in this class: DNA/RNA and amino acids. But first, let’s make surethe basics are covered.

Cells

Every organism is made up of tiny structures called cells. Often these cells are too smallto be seen with the naked eye. Each cell is in itself a complex system enclosed in amembrane. Some organisms, such as bacteria and baker’s yeast are composed of only asingle cell (i.e. they are unicellular). Other organisms are made up of many differentcells (i.e. they are multicellular). For instance, the human body is composed of around 60trillion cells. Humans have about 320 different cell types, each having a different type of function or structural property.

Structure of an animal cell.

Image source:

www.ebi.ac.uk/microarray/ biology_intro.htm

There are two types of organisms: eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotes (or as BruceRoe from the University of Oklahoma calls them the “You and I” Karyotes) representmost of the organisms which we can see, including plants and animals. Prokaryotes