It is the combination of biology and information technology. It is the branch of science that deals with the computer-based analysis of large biological data sets.

Bioinformatics incorporates the development of database to store the search data, and of statistical tools and algorithms to analyze and determine relationship between biological data sets, such as macromolecular sequences, structures, expression profiles and biochemical pathways.

It is mainly used for map genomes and to identify genes, to determine protein structure and simulate protein interactions, to discover new therapeutic targets and design medicines aimed at the targets and to access the effects of virtual mutations on gene function.

Computers are required in bioinformatics for their processing speed (allowing reparative tasks to be carried out quickly and systematically) and for their problem solving power.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

It requires expert human input, and the integrity and the quality of the source data are also critical because bioinformatics technology uses computational tools provided by the information technology revolution, such as statistical software, graphics simulation and database management, to organize and analyse information about biological systems, which, for biotechnology, is information about cells and biological molecules using another product of the information revolution, the internet, scientist broadcast this information around the world.