Bioinformatics manages and analyzes biological data through computer processing together with knowledge of the area of ​​biology.

Bioinformatics is composed of the prefix bio – which indicates “life.” In this case, it covers the knowledge of biological sciences whose objective is the study of the laws that govern the life of organisms. On the other hand, the word computer refers to the automated process of data collection and organization.

Also known as computational biology, it arises from the discovery of the structure of DNA by biologist James Dewey Watson (1928) and Francis Crick (1916-2004) in the 1950s. In this way, they officially combine computer technologies with biological sciences, bioinformatics being essential for genomic research.

Bioinformatics mainly studies areas of molecular biology, cell biology, biomedicine and biochemistry. The applications of this new discipline are used, for example, for molecular diagnoses, genetic filters, crop genetic improvement and new drug findings.

Bioinformatics is also a specialization in which you learn the use of software for editing DNA sequences, for example. The courses or masters in bioinformatics are usually aimed at graduates in genomic sciences.

Bioinformatics is one of the branches of modern biotechnology. The latter arises when you begin to study genetic manipulation or genetic engineering.

The applications of bioinformatics since then include, for example, the therapeutic cloning of germ cells, reproductive cloning for assisted reproduction, the cloning of genes or pieces of DNA, among others.

Biology and informatics

The biological sciences have advanced in their studies on the origin, evolution and essential characteristics of living beings thanks to the use of computer systems to store, process and transmit information.

The computer has helped classify a lot of information, creating a database on the correlations identified and unidentified.