BIOINFORMATICS

Question 1

What is bioinformatics?

Answer 1

The collection, organisation and analysis of large amounts of biological data, using networks of computers and databases.

Question 2

Describe shotgun sequencing.

Answer 2

1. sort chromosomes.
2. for each chromosome, clone large DNA sub fragments.
3. Map clones and identify spanning set
4. sequence each clone (random process)
5. fill in the gaps.

Question 3

What are the current and future applications of bioinformatics?

Answer 3

Understanding normal and disease-state biomechanisms
Designing new therapies
predictive modelling
evolution modelling

Question 4

Why do we need bioinformatics?

Answer 4

to make sense of the information contained in the genome of all organism.
generate and tests hypotheses
enable large scale sharing of information to save time and resources
enable rapid analysis of multiple genes and proteins
anable in depth analysis of single genes and proteins

Question 5

What are some challenges to bioinformatics?

Answer 5

Redundancy and multiplicity of biological data:
-gene duplications
-simmilar genes in different organisms
-genes with multiple functions
-multiple genes with one function
-pathway ID
Signal:noise in data
data errors
errors in literature
lack of data