Review

Recent developments in life sciences research: Role of bioinformatics

Vaddi Srinivasa Rao¹, Sussant Kumar Das¹, Vaddi Janardhana Rao¹ and Gedela Srinubabu²*

¹Department of Computer Science, Berhampur University, Orissa-760007, India.

²International center for Bioinformatics and Center for Biotechnology, Andhra University College of Engineering (A), Visakhapatnam-530003, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: srinubabuau6@gmail.com. Tel: +91-891-2844204, +91- 9394073150, +91- 8941- 216037. Fax: +91-891-2755547.

Accepted 22 January, 2008

Life sciences research and development has opened up new challenges and opportunities for bioinformatics. The contribution of bioinformatics advances made possible the mapping of the entire human genome and genomes of many other organisms in just over a decade. These discoveries, along with current efforts to determine gene and protein functions, have improved our ability to understand the root causes of human, animal and plant diseases and find new cures. Furthermore, many future Bioinformatic innovations will likely be spurred by the data and analysis demands of the life sciences. This review briefly describes the role of bioinformatics in biotechnology, drug discovery, biomarker discovery, biological databases, bioinformatic tools, bioinformatic tasks and its application in life sciences research.

Key words: Bioinformatics, drug discovery, biological databases, information technology.