Bioinformatics
What is the next frontier in science? By definition, the next frontier is one which is built on the foundations of all that came before it. Most people are familiar with new technologies of bioengineering in the medical field. Similarly, many have heard it said that we are living in what has best been described as the "Information Age." Just imagine if we were to take bioengineering and couple it with information technology. Further, if we were to take all the information humans have acquired about genes thus far and placed it into interconnected databases, where all draw from the others' information, what would we get? This is bioinformatics at its core. One definition "...is conceptualizing biology in terms of molecules and then applying informatics techniques to understand and organize the information associated on a large-scale." (Mark Gerstein, 1998) Today, the field brings together biology, chemistry and computer science. There are many commonly asked questions about this new science. How "bioinformatics" got its name? Who coined the term? What is the span or coverage of topics included under this umbrella-like term? Where did it develop first? Where is it the hottest research now? Who are the official authorities? Are there any existing clearinghouses? The following are some recommended resources where answers to these, and other questions can be found. They were selected by Yolanda Hollingsworth, the Science Library's Electronic Information Coordinator. Some assistance for web sites were provided by Sue Kaczor, Bibliographer and students in the Robert McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program during Summer, 2001. Updated October 2005 by Amanda Bauer.
RONALD McNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM,
Summer 2001
Crystal Adderly SUNY New Paltz Kristy Bustillo SUNY New Paltz Yasmine Caesar University at Albany Bethy Daniel Kean University, N.J. Anyee Fields University at Albany Nicole Hercules SUNY New Paltz Marie Raphaelle Jean University at Albany Sian Martin University at Albany Erniece Maxwell University at Albany Stephanie McKnight SUNY New Paltz Yvena Pamphil Kean University, N.J. Alicia Persuad University at Albany Lolita Simmons SUNY Geneseo Lucas Tarquino RPI Claudwardyne Thevenin University at Albany Hermine Voltaire SUNY Plattsburgh
Selected Internet Resources
Bioinformatics at the NIH: Contents include what's new, general information , impact to agency, and funding links. Also has a link to BIST (Biomedical Information Science Technology Initiative).
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): Grant information, intramural research, ethical, legal and social implications, genomic & genetic resources. Also includes links to the policy & public affairs, workshops & conferences, and "The Genome Hub." There are also terrific links to a free educational kit complete with CD ROM, video and a poster too. Another site location is at http://www.genome.gov/
Human Genome Project Information Web Site: A government source and a great place to go for most of the information relating to current genome research. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program. Free educational poster. For more information, contact Betty Mansfield, mansfieldbk@ornl.gov, (865)576-6669, Fax: 865/574-9888.
Genetically Yours: Bioinforming, Biopharming, and Biofarming by Dr. Hwa A. Lim, creator of the term "Bioinformatics." A description of the book as well as the first chapter in PDF format. The first chapter outlines the field in an approachable manner. New! Sept. 2005
University of Colorado Bioinformatics Home Page: A site that provided basic knowledge on the subject as well as the goals of the site. Explains why there should be interest in the field and had gave relevant obtainable links for further research. Site contains links to scholarly journals, dictionary and FAQs.
Bioinformatics.org: The site contains links to news (& news archives), repositories, mailing lists, and bulleting board. New additions include FAQ and Banner Exchange pages.
Bioinformatics News: Self -described as a "Yahoo-like hierarchical Web directory." A Weblog that provides daily updates and links to news items and stories of interest to bioinformatics community.
BIOINFORMATICS: Library and Internet resources A list of internet and library resources on Bioinformatics at George Mason University that has several useful links. New! Sept. 2005
Bioinformatics in New York
Center for the Study of Comparative Functional Genomics/Faculty: Did you know the University at Albany has a local site? This site is well-equipped with mission statement, news, research, faculty descriptions and recent publications, seminars, employment, and pre-doctoral graduate program general and contact information. For additional information contact: mailto:ccfg@albany.edu (518) 437-3704.
Buffalo Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics: In addition to having a link to news, this site also provides a wonderful overview with valuable information on informatics, bioinformatics, functional informatics and the future, with particular attention associated events in Western New York.
Bioinform: The Global Bioinformatics News Service Explore a New York-based journal, published every other Monday, focused exclusively on current events in the global bioinformatics community.
Other Sites of Interest
NASA BioVIS Technologyy Center: A government site via NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) which branches the field into two subareas: Center for Informatics and Information Technology. These two areas include 3D construction, simulation, virtual reality, and neurotechnology. Site has links to virtual live science, space biology, image gallery, publications and people.
Bioinformatics at Latrobe University: This site describes bioinformatics, DNA and protein structure & molecular modeling, and the human genome. Discusses the field's popularity and has a link to a powerpoint presentation with extensive details on concepts and terminology.
Gerstein Group--Yale Bioinformatics: Mark Gerstein, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Computer Science has a premiere Web source. It includes research on genomics, structure and expression with links to lectures, papers, people, jobs and calendar searches for events.
Masters of Science in Bioinformatics: Through Georgia Instititute of Technology, this site is tailored for students in pursuit of graduate degrees. Despite its promotion of the graduate program, it does piece together useful and brief information for those doing some background research on the field as a career. Also provides application and FAQ.
Selected UA Books
Bioinformatics : German Conference on Bioinformatics, GCB '96, Leipzig, Germany, September 30-October 2,1996 : selected papers / Author: German Conference on Bioinformatics (1996 : Leipzig, Germany) Publisher: Berlin; New York :Springer,c1997.
UALB SCIENCE QH 506 G47 1996Bioinformatics : information transduction and processing systems from cell to whole body : proceedings of the International Symposium on Information Transduction and Processing in Biological Systems, from cell to whole body, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan, 12-16 March 1989 / Author: International Symposium on Information Transduction and Processing in Biological Systems (1989 : Takamatsu-shi, Japan) Publisher: Amsterdam; New York: New York, NY, US: Elsevier Science Publishers
UALB SCIENCE QP 517 C45 I57 1989Bioinformatics : sequence and genome analysis / Author: Mount, David W. Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. :Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,c2001.
Science Library/QH 44.2 M68 2004.Bioinformatics : the machine learning approach / Author: Baldi, Pierre. Publisher: Cambridge, Mass. :MIT Press,c1998.
UALB SCIENCE QH 506 B35 1998Computer modelling in molecular biology / Publisher: Weinheim ;New York :VCH,c1995.
QH 506 C68X 1995Selected UA Periodicals
Bioinformatics / Author: Bioinformatics (Oxford, England) Publisher: Oxford :Oxford University Press,c1998-
SCIENCE Per QH 324.2 C63X v.14,no.1+ 1998+ Online and on the InternetComputing in Science and Engineering
SCIENCE Per Q 183.9 C656X Not currently received v.1-3 1999-2001 Online.Computational Biology and Chemistry
Full-text available online from Elsevier Science Direct Online / Online Periodical: QD 39.3 E46 C647
Selected Journal Articles *
Niiler, Eric. (9/14/2004) Controlling the flood of genetic information Christian Science Monitor 92(206):16. New! Sept. 2005
McCook, Alison. (9/29/2005) The automated DNA sequencer: where would the Human Genome Project, bioinformatics, and life sciences in general, be without it? The Scientist 19(16):15-19. New! Sept. 2005
Harding, Anne. (9/29/2005) Blast: how 90,000 lines of code helped spark the bioinformatics explosion The Scientist 19(16):21-25. New! Sept. 2005
Hopkin, Karen. (6/6/2005) Bring me your genomes: Ewan Birney has been working in genome bioinformatics since its, and nearly his own, infancy. The Scientist 19(11):60-61. New! Sept. 2005
Stein, Lincoln. (5/23/2005) What's next for bioinformatics? As new paradigms evolve, model organism databases could be on the way out.. The Scientist 19(10):31-32. New! Sept. 2005
Unger, S. A. and Ellen Goldbaum. Bioinformatics: Medicine's Newest Frontier UB Today (Spring/Summer 2001) p. 14-17 [Online as of 11/12/04]
P.S. Who Makes the Best Bioinformaticians? Nature v. 409 (February '01) p. 963
Roos, David S. Bioinformatics --Trying to Swim in a Sea of Data. Science v. 291 (Feb. 16 2001) p. 1260
*The full text of many of these titles is also available online. Check "Minerva," the online catalog, for more information.
YH 11/13/04; Updated D. Ryan, Sept 2004.
Updates and Link rev.: ACB Sept. 2005
