BIOINFORMATICS
Bioinformatics, a hybrid science that links biological data with techniques for
information storage, distribution, and analysis to support multiple areas of
scientific research, including biomedicine. Bioinformatics is fed by high-
throughput data-generating experiments, including genomic sequence
determinations and measurements of gene expression patterns. Database
projects curate and annotate the data and then distribute it via the World Wide
Web. Mining these data leads to scientific discoveries and to the identification
of new clinical applications. In the field of medicine in particular, a number of
important applications for bioinformatics have been discovered. For example,
it is used to identify correlations between gene sequences and diseases, to
predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, to aid in the design of
novel drugs, and to tailor treatments to individual patients based on
their DNA sequences (pharmacogenomics).
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods
and software tools for understanding biological data. As an interdisciplinary
field of science, bioinformatics combines biology, computer
science, information engineering, mathematics and statistics to analyze and
interpret biological data. Bioinformatics has been used for in silico analyses of
biological queries using mathematical and statistical techniques.
Bioinformatics is both an umbrella term for the body of biological studies that
use computer programming as part of their methodology, as well as a
reference to specific analysis "pipelines" that are repeatedly used, particularly
in the field of genomics. Common uses of bioinformatics include the
identification of candidates genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs). Often, such identification is made with the aim of better understanding
the genetic basis of disease, unique adaptations, desirable properties (esp. in
agricultural species), or differences between populations. In a less formal way,
bioinformatics also tries to understand the organisational principles
within nucleic acid and protein sequences, called proteomics.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology is technology based on biology - biotechnology harnesses cellular
and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help
improve our lives and the health of our planet. We have used the biological
processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful food
products, such as bread and cheese, and to preserve dairy products.
Biotechnology is the use of biological systems found in organisms or the use of
the living organisms themselves to make technological advances and adapt those
technologies to various different fields. These include applications in various
fields from agricultural practice to the medical sector. It does not only include
applications in fields that involve the living, but any other field where the
information obtained from the biological aspect of an organism can be applied.
Biotechnology is particularly vital when it comes to the development of miniscule
and chemical tools as many on the tools biotechnology uses exist at the cellular
level. Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living
organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products.
Types of BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. Medical Biotechnology Medical biotechnology is the use of living cells and
other cell materials for the purpose of bettering the health of humans. Essentially,
it is used for finding cures as well as getting rid of and preventing diseases. The
science involved includes the use of these tools for the purpose of research to find
different or more efficient ways of maintaining human health, understanding
pathogen, and understanding the human cell biology.
EX: Vaccines , Antibiotics
2. Agricultural Biotechnology Agricultural biotechnology focuses on developing
genetically modified plants for the purpose of increasing crop yields or
introducing characteristics to those plants that provide them with an advantage
growing in regions that place some kind of stress factor on the plant namely
weather and pests.
EX: Pest resistant crops, Plant and animal Breeding
GENOMICS
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure,
function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an
organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. In contrast
to genetics, which refers to the study of individual genes and their roles in
inheritance, genomics aims at the collective characterization and quantification
of all of an organism's genes, their interrelations and influence on the
organism.[1] Genes may direct the production of proteins with the assistance of
enzymes and messenger molecules. In turn, proteins make up body structures
such as organs and tissues as well as control chemical reactions and carry
signals between cells. Genomics also involves the sequencing and analysis of
genomes through uses of high throughput DNA
sequencing and bioinformatics to assemble and analyze the function and
structure of entire genomes.[2][3][4] Advances in genomics have triggered a
revolution in discovery-based research and systems biology to facilitate
understanding of even the most complex biological systems such as the brain.
Genomics is the study of all of a person's genes (the genome), including
interactions of those genes with each other and with the person's environment.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical compound that contains
the instructions needed to develop and direct the activities of nearly all living
organisms. DNA molecules are made of two twisting, paired strands, often
referred to as a double helix. Each DNA strand is made of four chemical units,
called nucleotide bases, which comprise the genetic "alphabet." The bases are
adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Bases on opposite
strands pair specifically: an A always pairs with a T; a C always pairs with a G.
The order of the As, Ts, Cs and Gs determines the meaning of the information
encoded in that part of the DNA molecule just as the order of letters
determines the meaning of a word.
GENOME - An organism's complete set of DNA is called its genome. Virtually
every single cell in the body contains a complete copy of the approximately 3
billion DNA base pairs, or letters, that make up the human genome.
GENETIC ENGINEERING
Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an
organism’s characteristics (phenotype) in a particular way.
Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process
of altering the DNA? in an organism’s genome?.
This may mean changing one base pair? (A-T or C-G), deleting a whole
region of DNA, or introducing an additional copy of a gene?.
It may also mean extracting DNA from another organism’s genome and
combining it with the DNA of that individual.
Genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance or modify the
characteristics of an individual organism.
Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism, from a virus? to a
sheep.
For example, genetic engineering can be used to produce plants that have a
higher nutritional value or can tolerate exposure to herbicides.
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic
manipulation, is the direct manipulation of an
organism's genes using biotechnology. It is a set of technologiesused to change
the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across
species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA is
obtained by either isolating and copying the genetic material of interest
using recombinant DNAmethods or by artificially synthesising the DNA.
GMO- GMOs are organisms that have had their characteristics changed through
the modification of their DNA.
GMO stands for genetically modified organism.
Genetically modified (GM) organisms are organisms that have had
their genomes? changed in a way that does not happen naturally.
By changing an organism’s genome we can change its characteristics.
Any organism could be genetically modified, but laws restrict the creation of
genetically modified humans, and the production and distribution of other GMOs
is tightly regulated.
Common examples of GMOs are GM crops used in agriculture and GM model
organisms? used in medical research.
CELL
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is
composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in
nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out
specialized functions. Cells also contain the body’s hereditary material and can
make copies of themselves.
Cells have many parts, each with a different function. Some of these parts,
called organelles, are specialized structures that perform certain tasks within
the cell
The basic membrane-bound unit that contains the fundamental molecules of
life and of which all living things are composed. A single cell is often a complete
organism in itself, such as a bacterium or yeast. Other cells acquire specialized
functions as they mature. These cells cooperate with other specialized cells and
become the building blocks of large multicellular organisms, such as humans
and other animals. Although cells are much larger than atoms, they are still
very small
