BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SYSTEM NETWORK (BTISnet) OF DBT GOVT. OF INDIA |
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Dr. T. Madhan Mohan |
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Invited Guest Article |
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NEED OF BIOINFORMATICS |
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Bioinformatics, an emerging area offering a
fundamental tool to the scientific community, particularly the biologists,
to speed up the research, application and commercialization of
biotechnology. In fact the best thing, which has happened towards the end
of the 20th century and in the 21st century, is the marriage between
biotechnologists and information technologists leading to the growth and
development of this field. India took a lead as early as in the 1980s but
more precisely from 1986 onwards by establishing a strong base of
Bioinformatics with the necessary infrastructure. As a result one has seen
major breakthroughs in biology and the growth of biotechnology has been
phenomenal in the last decade, specially with the most outstanding
technological breakthrough of the 20th century wherein the draft human
genome sequence was completed in 2000 and now the genetic code is
completely sequenced. This has provided the world scientific community
information on the vast sequence and structure of the Genomes, the crystal
structures and there is an increasing dependence on computational
approaches. Biotechnology has emerged as a front-line area with vital
significance in unraveling secrets of life, particularly in the studies of
new biology and biotechnology. The genomic revolution has underscored the
central role of Bioinformatics in understanding the very basic of life
processes. |
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Let us start with the issue of the genetic resources and precious biodiversity of India as also of the world. The need to conserve, protect and utilize them on a sustainable basis is the need of the hour. Genetic resources are made to improve the agricultural productivity and are the vital components of the global environment. Gene Bank concept has become very important, both for ex-situ conservation and the utilization of the valuable germplasm on a long -term basis. |
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In fact, world over the scientists are associating
the computers and the new biology looking at a speed with which data
collection is done, automated high throughput data gathering, i.e.
sequencing the whole genome and the web based data “Warehouses”
integrate the information from the research efforts from all over the
world. We know that there will be more than 3-27 million undiscovered
species of plants and animals on the planet earth. However, through the
endeavor of the scientists, hundreds of new species are discovered and
classified every day. The accelerated progress of information technology
has completely transformed the research in life sciences. The focus on
genome technologies has made it still more relevant to establish very
close linkages between computers and experimental biologists. There are
many developments, for e.g. Enterprise Bioinformatics, high system
computing, genomic data and database integration and DNA amplification and
sequencing, genome assembly and gene types, web based Bioinformatics,
biochips and gene expression analysis and Proteomics and mass
spectrometry. |
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Recent studies have shown that even the implication
of mathematical theory in cell biology have become very important. In fact
Leroy Hood from the Institute for Systems Biology, in Seattle
says “ the future will be the study of genes and proteins of organisms
in the context of their informational pathways and networks”.
Similarly the areas of modular biology, synthetic biology is at the
forefront of scientific excitement. |
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The announcement of the remarkable success of the
human genome project supported in 1986 and making the draft sequence
available to the people was a landmark in the history of modern biology
and science. This has generated tools to produce the whole gene catalogues
for many microbes, the plant Arabidopsis
thalina, the fruit fly Drosophila
melanogaster, the roundworm Caenorhabditis
elegans, and soon the puffer fish Fugu
rubripes. The complete genome sequences have almost served as recipes
for life and the foundation of modern biology in the 21st century aimed at
the biological goals as defined bye the scientific community world over as
“Achieve a fundamental, comprehensive and systematic understanding of
life”. |
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It is important now that scientists work towards
characterization of the full repertoire of molecular machines of the
living systems. Also they must understand how these machines are
orchestrated with the life system of single cell and complex multicellular
organisms. |
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CONCEPT
OF BIOINFORMATICS |
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Bioinformatics
or Life Science Informatics is a young, fast developing science branch,
dealing with storage, analysis integration and simulation of molecular
biological data. Bioinformatics is an applied discipline that utilizes
computational tools to conceptualize biology. It has emerged as a cutting
edge technology and a knowledge revolution. Extraordinary growth of
information technology and unprecedented advances in molecular biology and
recombinant DNA
techniques have ushered in the age of Bioinformatics. |
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Human kind is on the brink of another revolution.
There is no doubt that the mapping of the human genome, completed in June
2000, is one of the greatest scientific advancements in history. This
breakthrough in biological research was made possible by advancements in
using Bioinformatics and computational Biology. Areas such as proteomics,
Genomics, combinatorial chemistry, statistics, nanotechnology,
spectroscopy and structural and computational Biology will have increasing
applications of Bioinformatics in days to come. |
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GOAL OF BIOINFORMATICS |
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The
major goal of bioinformatics is to obtain the complete sequences of as
many different genomes as possible. By having that sequence information,
companies and research organizations can start to do what is commonly
referred to as "sequence-based biology". They take that sequence
information, and use it to give scientists more direction as to how they
should design experiments, and how these scientists should analyze the
experiments. So bioinformatics is causing a fundamental shift in how
scientists actually approach molecular biology. The "Holy Grail"
for bioinformatics is to map all the genes in the human body and decipher
what the role each gene and its associated base pair plays in the
expression of the gene. |
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ROLE
AND RELEVANCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
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Bioinformatics is becoming increasingly important due to the interest of the pharmaceutical industry in genome sequencing projects. There is a vital need to harness this information for medical diagnostic and therapeutic uses, and there are opportunities for other industrial applications. This field is evolving rapidly, which makes it challenging for biotechnology professionals to keep up with recent advancements. The area has evolved to deal with four distinct problems viz. (i) Handling and management of biological data, including its organization, control, linkages, analysis, and so forth. (ii) Communication among people, projects, and institutions engaged in the biological research and applications. The communication, which includes e-mail, file transfer, remote login, video conferencing, electronic bulletin boards and establishment of web-based information resources (iii) organization, access, search and retrieval of biological information, documents, and literature; and (iv) analysis and interpretation of the biological data through the computational approaches including visualization, modeling & simulation, and development of algorithms for highly parallel processing of complex biological structures. The following are the thrust areas of Biotechnology, which are fully dependent on Bioinformatics: |
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COMPARATIVE GENOMICS |
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The
assumption that the similarity of two sequences whether it is DNA, RNA or
protein implies functional correlation. Some of the most successful
bioinformatics applications deal with this kind of analysis. Several
software tools have been developed like BLAST that efficiently performs
sequence-alignments against large databases of known sequences. It became
a routine task to compare a new sequence against several databases. |
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FUNCTIONAL
GENOMICS |
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To
investigate genes in their cellular context, expression analysis via
Microarray and DNA-chips takes place. The comparison of expression patters
of well-defined metabolic states allows identifications of pathological
phenotypes on a molecular level. Based on the identifications a reverse
engineering of pathways and localization of pharmaceutical targets is
possible. |
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PROTEOMICS
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The
publication of entire genome sequences led to a shift of interests from
pure DNA sequencing to Protein localization and characterization within
their cellular context. This became necessary as one gene can give rise to
a number of products via mechanisms such as splicing or post-translatoric
modifications. The proteome is refers to the identification and analysis
of all proteins of a cell. This involves the determination of structures
as well as the identifications of protein interactions and function in
biological pathways. |
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STRUCTURAL
GENOMICS
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Structural
Genomics covers the calculation of three-dimensional structures based on
the sequence of a macromolecule. The theoretical basis of the relationship
between sequences and structure is the most fundamental problem of in
silico biology. From a computational point of view the so-called folding
problem is the most demanding objection of computational biology.
Nevertheless only the knowledge of the structure of a protein can provide
a deeper understanding of its function. |
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PHARMACO
GENOMICS |
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The
development of drugs aims to maximize effect and minimize side effects. It
would therefore be very convenient to personalize drugs for each patient.
The genetic variations among all human is only 0.1% of the total DNA. The
differences are mostly point mutations, having phenotypic impact. These
so-called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) become good candidates
for drug development and diagnosis. With the investigation of SNPs using
Microarrays the investigation of entire populations becomes feasible.
Databases of SNPs will reveal the patterns that cause cancer or Altzheimer.
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CELLOMICS
OR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
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If sufficient data is
available and all relevant components for life are identified more complex
interactions can be investigated. For a holistic biological understanding
of cell, simulations of cells, entire organisms and populations provide
new insights. The simulation of life in
silico is a future directive for bioinformatics that started now. |
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BIOINFORMATICS
NETWORK IN INDIA
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India’s
achievements and strategic advantage in information technology and
biotechnology have positioned the country to play a crucial role in the
post-genomic era. This role would range from analysis of genes and
structures, defining metabolic pathways to identification and validation
of drug targets and classification of the natural resources based on
genetic profiles. Biotechnological applications in agriculture, medicine
and environment protection and biodiversity conservation have not only
scientific relevance but also offer opportunities for overall sustainable
development, most desirable for 21st Century. The countries rich
biodiversity and bioresources can reap the harvest from these scientific
breaks through. |
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With
the objective of integrating the country’s vast scientific expertise in
the different areas in biotechnology and computational sciences, the
Department of Biotechnology envisioned in 1986 the establishment of a
distributed information network. The network was to provide a common
platform for exchange of information among the scientific community and in
the process speed up the scientific discoveries. The network, referred to
as the Biotechnology Information System Network, (BTISnet) presently
consists of sixty-one centres spread all over the country. Over the years,
the network has created a resource base including computational
infrastructure, databases and software. Human resource development through
short and long-term programmes, research and applications in frontier
areas of Bioinformatics and biotechnology, are the main objectives of the
Bioinformatics programme. |
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The
BTISnet has established a link among scientists and organizations involved
in research and development activities in Biotechnology. The network today
offers a single window information resource in the country covering
inter-disciplinary areas of biotechnology and molecular biology. Six
National Facilities on Interactive Graphics are dedicated to the promotion
of molecular modeling and other related activates. More than 100 subject
specific databases have been developed through the BTISnet. Several major
International databases for application to genomics and proteomics have
been established in the form of Mirror sites as part of the network. These
databases are being linked through high speed and large bandwidth network
in the form of VPN called BIOGRID INDIA to promote faster sharing of
information as well as to encourage tandem research by various R&D
labs and industrial units. These sites are designed to act as knowledge
pathways for discoveries in biotechnology. At the micro level, the
programme deals with the various issues related to the biological data. It
covers the development of data analysis tools, modeling of biological
macromolecules and their complexes, metabolic pathways, designing of new
molecules such as drugs, peptide vaccines, proteins etc. |
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HUMAN
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
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ADVANCED
DIPLOMA COURSE
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The
skilled human resource in bioinformatics is of utmost importance for
effective implementation of the high throughput programmes in
biotechnology. The BTISnet is running five long-term advanced diploma
courses in bioinformatics at the post-M.Sc. level through leading
universities of the country: Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai;
University of Pune, Pune; University of Calcutta, Kolkata; Jawaharlal
Nehru University and Pondicherry University. The number of seats at each
University has been increased based on the demand from the industrial
sector. Each course is now producing approximately 15-20 candidates per
year. Every year more than 60 trained professionals are being generated
through this programme. |
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POST-GRADUATE
DEGREE COURSES
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Post-Graduate
courses such as M.Sc., M.Tech and PhD in bioinformatics have been
introduced through Pune University, IIIT-Allahabad and JNU, New Delhi
respectively to promote leadership quality human resource in the area of
bioinformatics. |
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SHORT-TERM
TRAINING
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The
BTISnet is also supporting and organising several short-term training and
workshops in front-line areas of bioinformatics and Biocomputing all over
the country. A large number of scientists and research scholars from all over
the country are making use of these training programmes of which more than
70 have been conducted this year. |
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R & D ON BIOINFORMATICS |
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The
Bioinformatics Centres are being extensively used for intensive research
by the hosts and neighboring institutions. The thrust areas provided are
sequence analysis and molecular modeling. Apart from supporting research,
the centres are also actively engaged in research on frontier areas of
bioinformatics. Intrinsic research in the bioinformatics centres includes
gene analysis, protein structure prediction & engineering, modeling
macromolecules assembly, evolutionary biology and mechanisms of disease.
Under the programme several R&D projects have been supported and the
increase of R&D proposals in Bioinformatics has been witnessed in this
year. The Department is considering this area as a thrust area to extend
more support towards development of Bioinformatics tools. |
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According to the views of the scientific community
world over, there are four goals before science, namely, |
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Identify and characterize the molecular machines of life- the multiprotein complexes that execute cellular functions and govern cell form |
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Characterize gene regulatory networks. |
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Characterize the functional repertoire of complex microbial communities in their natural environments at the molecular level. |
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Develop the
computational methods and capabilities to advance understanding of complex
biological systems and predict their behavior (Genes, proteins and
molecular machines). |
While it is very fascinating and exciting to link
the new development in biology emerging out of the tools of
Bioinformatics, all aspects relating to ELSI (Ethical Legal Social
Implications) of modern research and its application are equally
important. Biosafety of genetically modified products, aspects of
environmental risks and assessment, Intellectual property rights etc. have
become an integral part of biology today. |
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