Transformation of BioTech World: Bioinformatics

Life scientists and clinicians have always tried to assemble data and evidence to find the right answers to fundamental questions. Today, data are no longer lacking - but a different kind of problem has emerged.

Indeed, new technologies are producing data at an unprecedented rate. So much data - and of so many kinds - that they can no longer be interpreted by the human mind alone.

Enter bioinformatics: the application of computer technology to the understanding and effective use of biological and clinical data. It is the discipline that stores, analyses and interprets the ‘big data’ generated by life science experiments, or clinical data, using computer science. And dedicated data experts.

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Personalized Medication

By identifying individual mutations involved in a disease, personalized medicines can be developed. The genetic information obtained from genome sequencing can help in identifying the precise gene on which the mutation has taken place based on which personalized treatments can be developed.

This can greatly improve the prognosis of an individual. For this, the organizational and analytical aspects of bioinformatics come into play. Lengauer T studied the treatment of HIV patients using bioinformatics-assisted therapy.

In Germany, a pilot study including high-risk pediatric cancer patients called the Individualized Therapy for Relapsed Malignancies in Childhood (INFORM), was carried out with the aim of developing targeted therapy for each patient. Among the 57 patients that were enrolled, 10 received targeted therapy.

The primary relapse analysis demonstrated tumor progression and one case of secondary malignancy indicating the possibility and importance of real-time molecular profiling in such patients to improve individual prognosis.

Evolutionary Biology

The study of evolution involves tracing the origins of the species, identification of their ancestors, and the possibility of any mutations during the evolutionary process. The first genomic sequence, Phage Ф-X174, was identified in 1977. Bioinformatics helps in the comparison of numerous species by their genetic profile and helps in the identification of evolutionary trees called phylogenetic trees.

The huge volumes of data produced are organized well allowing previously undetected genetic events to be characterized, such as identification of horizontal gene transfer.

Protein Structure

Bioinformatics is also used in the analysis of proteins. The structure and function of proteins can be characterized through various high-throughput technologies allowing scientists to gain a greater insight into their roles in the biological processes.

The field of bioinformatics has revolutionized the analysis of data in many areas of biology. It allows us to seek answers for the most important and fundamental biological questions without the burden of accumulating large volumes of data.

Sector Dynamics

The Bioinformatics Market is anticipated to grow in the forecast period owing to driving factors such as rise in need for integrated data, growing demand for nucleic acid & protein sequencing due to reduction in sequencing cost, increase in application of proteomics & genomics, drug discovery & development and initiatives from government and private organization. Nevertheless, lack of skilled work force, common data formats and lack of user friendly tools at cheaper prices are projected to hamper the market growth during the forecast period.

source: azolifesciences, sib.swiss, The Insight Partners