Available courses

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, mathematics, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data. It plays a pivotal role in understanding and organizing complex biological information, especially in the era of high-throughput technologies such as genome sequencing, proteomics, and transcriptomics.

Key Objectives

  1. Data Analysis and Management: Handling large-scale biological datasets like DNA sequences, protein structures, or gene expression profiles.
  2. Sequence Alignment and Annotation: Comparing DNA, RNA, or protein sequences to identify similarities, evolutionary relationships, and functional regions.
  3. Structural Biology: Predicting the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules to understand their function.
  4. Systems Biology: Modeling and simulating biological systems to study interactions and pathways.

Applications

  • Genomics: Analyzing entire genomes to understand genes and their functions.
  • Proteomics: Studying protein sequences and structures to understand their role in cellular processes.
  • Drug Discovery: Identifying potential drug targets and designing molecules for treatment.
  • Evolutionary Biology: Tracing the evolutionary history of organisms through phylogenetic analysis.

Tools and Techniques

  • Databases: NCBI, EMBL, UniProt, PDB for storing biological data.
  • Algorithms: BLAST, ClustalW, and HMMER for sequence alignment and analysis.
  • Programming: Python, R, and Perl for data processing and visualization.
  • Machine Learning: For predicting patterns and extracting meaningful insights from data.

Bioinformatics bridges the gap between raw biological data and meaningful insights, enabling researchers to decode the complexities of life and contribute to advances in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science.

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry explores the biochemical processes underlying health, disease, and the action of drugs at the molecular level. It focuses on understanding biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids), enzymes, and metabolic pathways to identify targets for drug design and therapy. This field examines drug metabolism, mechanisms of action, and the biochemical basis of diseases, linking them to therapeutic interventions. It also integrates clinical biochemistry to analyze biomarkers and monitor drug efficacy. With advancements in biotechnology, pharmaceutical biochemistry contributes to the development of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and personalized medicines, bridging science and healthcare to improve treatment outcomes.

Genetics is the scientific study of genes, heredity, and the mechanisms by which traits are passed from parents to offspring. It delves into the molecular structure and function of DNA, the genetic material that carries the instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms. The field originated with Gregor Mendel's groundbreaking work on inheritance patterns in pea plants, which laid the foundation for understanding how traits are inherited. Modern genetics has expanded to include molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology, offering insights into genetic disorders, evolutionary biology, and applications in medicine and agriculture. By uncovering the principles that govern life, genetics plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of biology and improving human health and well-being.

Describe the early life of Adeline Yen Mah.