In a time not too long ago, scientists could only share information with each other through physical conversations and handwritten notes. Then came the 20th century. As computers slipped their way into daily life, scientists began to see possibilities for rapid advancement when using computer technology in the medical field. Not only did computers have the resources for holding and analyzing research data, but the Internet offered a way for scientists to collaborate and interact with each other, easily transmitting and manipulating information.
Scientists realized that computers would solve the problem of finding a place to store information for future analysis. A new era emerged as scientists studied DNA sequences in organisms. The combination of biotechnology and computer usage became known as bioinformatics.
Fighting against diseases took on a new dimension with bioinformatics as researchers entered digital data to predict structures, stimulate macromolecules, and solve problems of molecular biology. Biologists could now build models and track information, even witnessing evolution firsthand. Computer programs could break down huge quantities of data, pulling out necessary information with ease.
Sequence analysis is one of bioinformatics’ greatest strengths. A popular example of this is in the Human Genome Project. Researchers used huge computers and a variety of methods of collecting sequences to store the human genome within a database. In order to collect DNA sequences, scientists go through the genome and find individual sequences that they store and record. Another way to collect DNA sequences is to grab large quantities of fragments for comparison, locating redundant segments as they overlap. Analysis of mutations offers information regarding cancers. Since computers helped map the human genome, bioinformatics has become a critical part of cancer research.
Computers are beneficial to biotechnology in other ways, too. Scientists can collect and store data from a large variety of species. The computers track changes in populations and help biologists study biomes. Using the Internet, scientists can share information with each other.