Series: Bioinformatics

INFORMATION EXPLOSION

As I continue trying to figure out what is happening on the web relative to bioinformatics I am struck by the proliferation of information sources and services, news and information, as well as the plethora of various other supporting sites. It would be a miracle if anyone could actually navigate the sea of content consistently and always find the best, most current information, available technologies, similar or adjacent research, etc.

Contributing Factors

This information explosion in biology (life sciences) is fueled by two primary catalysts:

• Continuing evolution and expansion of the Web, and
• Biology becoming digital.

There are many sub-factors that could be just as important like the number of graduates coming into the field or the phenomenal growth in sequencing and computing technologies. All of these are conspiring to create what many have called an information deluge, certainly accurate and maybe an understatement. The rate at which information is being assimilated is growing on an exponential scale making it very difficult to keep it organized, current and easily accessible.

Its Just Beginning

Researchers are Trolls

In reviewing some of the information technologies that are being used in biological research and development I came across some interesting sites that are described later in this post. I've known for a while that researchers, students, corporations and others spend a fair amount of time trolling through the internet looking for information.

Syndication of Information

The data deluge in bioinformatics is only highlighting this problem, it isn't necessarily about capacity it is more about intelligence and how to access it. For example, if a scientist discovers a gene that impacts his area of research the first thing to do is find out everything they can about that gene. Traditionally this would have meant hitting the journals but now it means hitting the web sites, and not just the journal web sites but the plethora of online researchers, scientists, corporations and everyone else with something to contribute. That's just on the publication and news side.

Syndication of Services

DATABASES, WEB SERVICES AND TOOLS AVAILABLE

FOR BIOINFORMATICS

The diagram on the right represents R. palustries protein-protein interaction network that was discovered using a combination of mass spectometry and proprietary data analysis techniques, this represents just one of the many tools available to the bioinformatician. 

Database, Web Services and Tools

The focus of this post is exclusively related to bioinformatics information technology and more specifically database access and the use of web services and tools. I've posted a couple of articles recently that are related to this subject, they are located here, here and a more general article here. The fact of the matter is that both content and services are growing at a substantial pace when it comes to the life sciences, so much so that it is almost impossible to keep up.

IBM is a DRIVING FORCE of

PARADIGM SHIFTs in LIFE SCIENCES

Everybody knows that IBM is a huge, multi-national corporation that has revenue larger than some country's entire GDP. For those of us that are old enough, we can remember when IBM was schooled by Bill Gates and Microsoft, many wondered if IBM would ever recover. Well, not only have they recovered but are probably stronger than ever! This is company that is and has always been on the leading edge of science and not just computer technology but everything from cosmology to biology. This post attempts to outline what IBM is doing in the area of bioinformatics and computational biology.