Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre

Formerly Bioinformatics Centre (DBT-BIF)
Assam University, Silchar
Sponsored by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India

Need for databases and tools in Bioinformatics Research:

Bioinformatics applications often generate very large data sets that are stored through flat files and spreadsheet formats. In recent years, with the advance of bioinformatics and biologic techniques, the amount of data stored in computer systems has grown exponentially. Hence, it is essential that bioinformatics researchers employ tools to simplify the management of data, thereby allowing for the quick extraction and integration of useful information. In particular, the use of data mining techniques requires data to be stored in structured databases.

In a database, information is more readily accessible and easy to query, good examples are GenBank, EMBL, DDBJ and KEGG etc. However, data stored in simple files is still the rule rather than the exception in the bioinformatics area.

Using various customized tools, research in Bioinformatics can be made easy and efficient.