Information technology has touched every sphere of life. There can’t be any area or field which has not been influenced by the dynamics of information technology. As a matter of fact, all fields of study are now dependent on IT.
And biotechnology is no exception. The perfect sync between biotechnology and information technology has put forth a new branch known as bioinformatics.Many universities and colleges are offering courses on bioinformatics. Most of the universities award a BTech degree after the course of study. And a student can do Master’s and even do research on the subject.Let’s see what bioinformatics is and what topics are covered under this branch of study.
What is bioinformatics?
A mix of biotechnology and information technology. Basically, IT is used for data storage, data warehousing and analysis of DNA sequences. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary branch of study which involves mathematics, engineering, computer science and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data.To put it in differently, bioinformatics is a science not only to develop algorithms but also to curate the relevant biological data. It is important to correctly interpret the data as many researchers depend on the theories derived from the interpretation of the available data.
Where bioinformatics is used?
Bioinformatics has varied uses and is used in different fields of study such as molecular science, drug development, gene therapy, climate change studies, forensic analysis, crop improvement, insect resistance and bio-weapon creation. It is also used in microbial genome applications, personalized medicine and development of alternative energy sources. So, bioinformatics, knowingly or unknowingly, touches the daily life of humans and tries to provide a quality life to all.
A take on bioinformatics trainin
Bioinformatics is a specialized area of study and mastering the subject is equally difficult. The student should find a good teacher, read teachers, who has mastery over these varied topics. If a student feels that he is weak in a subject, he should take the initiative to a find a teacher for that.
For a bioinformatics student science and math should be his forte. Otherwise it will be very difficult to score high marks in the university examinations.