An Engineering Approach to Bioinformatics and Its Applications

• Published in: Plant Bioinformatics pp. 417 - 446
• Main Authors: Yilmaz-Temel, Hulya, Vardar-Sukan, Fazilet
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2017; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Agricultural science; Botany & plant sciences; Metagenomics; Microarrays; Molecular biology; Recombinant DNA technology; Synthetic Biology
• ISBN: 9783319671550; 3319671553
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67156-7_18

Biological sciences have witnessed a radical paradigm change in the last 70 years. Vast amounts of data and information have become available. However, life processes have complicated patterns due to numerous multidimensional interactions among different components with spatial and temporal variables. We are now looking at biological processes, from a holistic and integrated perspective, as unified systems. With the synergy created by interdisciplinary approaches, researchers are now trying to interpret the patterns of life processes by elucidating structures, networks, dynamics, and interrelations. The development of bioinformatics as an interdisciplinary field has introduced many sophisticated tools and techniques, to organize the information associated with biological molecules and contribute to our understanding of biological processes. On a larger scale, this has led to many practical applications, not only providing greater depth to biological research but also adding other dimensions to engineering applications. This chapter gives a general overview of the novel bioinformatics tools such as sequencing, gene prediction, protein sequencing and structure prediction, microarrays, gene expression, metagenomics, restriction enzymes, and transformation and of some techniques including recombinant DNA technology, synthetic biology, and engineering of systems. Some examples in medical and clinical applications, including pharmacology, pharmacogenomics, and epigenomics; in industrial biotechnology, specifically for the production of novel compounds and enzymes, food and feed sector, chemical feedstocks, and biofuels and materials; and in agriculture are provided, emphasizing the impact of bioinformatics in different sectors for providing solutions to contemporary challenges. This is supplemented with selected examples of some recent patents demonstrating the potential of bioinformatics in large-scale applications.