|
It is an area where biological, and biochemical sciences interact with computer science and
statistics. The expectation is that computer-supported research will generate more data in less
time and therefore likely to lead to rapid discoveries for scientific progress. The shift from
classical laboratory manipulations to computer-generated results is leading to the new
approach of experimentation. Computational analysis is essential to process the cryptic
information found in DNA and protein sequences given their variation in length and
complexity. Databases store and manage the information. The tasks of bioinformaticians
focus on database design and management, they perform programming and create web
interfaces for analysis tools.
Bioinformatics and health care
Bioinformatics is reliant on biotechnological innovations to provide the data for analysis.
With the breakthrough in genetic engineering more than twenty-five years ago, the benefits
have been most significant in the area of health care. Today, a large number of biotechnology
products are on the market and those include vaccines, cytokines, hormones and serum
proteins for therapeutical use. The US market for such products is an estimated $24 billion.
Similar products are equally in demand for animal health. Research focuses on disease
prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The direction for innovative products is now towards
processing of high-throughput data for a better understanding of pathological conditions.
Hence studies on genomics and proteomics reveal not only the genetic makeup of an
organism but also how and why an individual is more prone to a particular disease. Molecular
marker studies have contributed enormously in pinning down the causative genetic factors of
susceptibility to particular diseases. They are also being used for deciphering genetic
diversity in animals as well as identifying QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) responsible for
important traits. Bioinformatics has a central role in the rapid processing of molecular data
for the identification of sequences related to a particular physiological condition.
Bioinformatics and Food Security
Achieving the Millenium Goals for Development for reducing poverty and hunger in the
world requires heavy investment in science and technology. Modern food production
approaches are technology-driven and the contribution of biotechnology to increasing food
production has shown enormous potential. Whether for the production of transgenic foods or
for disease and pest management, molecular techniques have become routine in agricultural
science. Increasingly, use of bioinformatics tools are proving even more valuable as genomic
and expression data become available. Cereal genomics has advanced enormously since the
rice genome and the many EST data are within reach of all researchers. The very big plant
breeding institutions such as IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) and CYMMIT (The
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) have become centres of excellence for
plant genomics and gene discovery due to their long-term vision on research directions.
Bioinformatics is central in their program of work as vital tools for reaching their objectives
for crop improvement.
All developed countries have a well-structured strategy for the integration of biotechnology
and bioinformatics into their research and development activities. Most major universities
have a bioinformatics centre and have been running courses and leading research in this field
for more than a decade. They host databases, have on-line resources and provide services to
the community of users. Many bioinformatics institutions, like the European Bioinformatics
Institute, EBI, have genome browsers for viewing and using genome information for a
variety of organisms. Such facilities are easily accessible to the public and can be tapped for
further applications. The Welcome Trust in UK has an important Pathogen Genomics
section where more than forty-five bacteria and twenty protozoans are being sequenced.
Many more are completed and the sequences stored. Various DNA sequence viewer and
annotation tools are also available from the site. Similarly in the USA, several centres
involved in genome sequencing have on-line tools for retrieving and analysing DNA data.
The Genomic Research Institute (TIGR) in Rockville, Maryland, is considered as the ‘world
leading centre for microbial genomics’ and has contributed immensely in bringing DNA
sequences of major pathogens into the public domain. A fruitful collaboration between
scientists at TIGR and at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya has
resulted in a major achievement following the sequencing of the genome of Theileria parva.
This parasite is among the deadliest killer of cattle in Africa. Genomic information gives an
inside view of the organism’s metabolic pathways and is used for designing better vaccines
and drugs. This collaboration proved that a North-South cooperation can catalyse research
outputs and accelerate the quest for better solutions to tropical health problems. It also
triggered development of a platform for bioinformatics in Kenya.
Developing countries like Brazil, India and China have not been left behind since they
realized early enough the potential of investing in new technologies for improvement in
health care, and food security. South East Asia is an example where such investment has
resulted in positive effects on the national economies. Singapore has among the most
sophisticated structures for carrying out research in computational biology. The high number
of institutions and researchers illustrate the importance that this nation gives to new
technologies in biological sciences. The Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNET)
brings together more than three hundred researchers from twelve countries for the
applications of bioinformatics in research and development. These countries have set the
pace to contribute a bigger share of the world research and development which has so far
been dominated by US, Japan and EU. ASBCB is the African Society for Bioinformatics and
Computational Biology and is dedicated to promoting interactions among scientists in this
field.
|
