Informational Page

What is bioinformatics?

A mixture of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Computer Science

Obtaining, storing, organizing, and analyzing biological and genetic information for understanding its activity in living organisms

Main goal is to convert multitude of complex data into useful information and knowledge

Data includes gene and protein sequences, cDNA, nucleotide sequences

Data from gene sequencing, combinatorial chemical synthesis, gene-expression investigations, pharmicogenomics, proteomic studies, and other methods of study.

Information used to build synthetic and predictive models allowing scientists to better understand complex living systems

Future applications in biology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, medicine, and agriculture

Why should you be interested?

With this new field of study, you have the opportunity to apply recent technology to almost anything you want to know in the realm of Biology, Chemistry, Medicine and more. You can:

Compare genomes of any species whose genome is mapped

Discover what gene encodes a particular protein

See the 3D structure of proteins

Get information about your favorite disease

To see more of these possibilities, see the Applications Section.

Purpose of this Site:

Educate undergrads in the new field of Bioinformatics

Instruct students in using bioinfo applications

Provide problems for students to work to test their new knowledge

Supply links to graduate education and career opportunities in the field

Act as a supplement to Biochemistry texts

To get people interested in Bioinformatics

This site is funded by the National Science Foundation .