Introduction to Bioinformatics

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions from the Introduction to Bioinformatics lecture notes.

Bioinformatics

The application of computational methods to biological data, central for biology and medicine.

AI Strategy

A plan that integrates artificial intelligence into the goals and operations of a life sciences company, often considered essential for investment.

Erwin Schrödinger

Nobel Prize-winning physicist who influenced molecular biology through his work on information science in life.

James D. Watson and Francis Crick

Nobel laureates who discovered the 3D structure of DNA in a groundbreaking 1962 publication.

Massively Parallel NGS Sequencing

Next-generation sequencing technology that allows for the simultaneous sequencing of millions of DNA strands.

NCBI

National Center for Biotechnology Information, the U.S. database for genomic data.

Encode

Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, a consortium that characterizes functional elements in the human genome.

Spatial Transcriptomics

A technology that studies gene expression in the context of tissue architecture.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism determined by its genetic makeup and environment.

Genome Size

The total amount of DNA contained within one copy of a single genome, typically measured in base pairs.

Alternative Splicing

A process by which different combinations of exons are joined together to produce different mRNA variants from the same gene.

DeepMind’s AlphaFold2

An artificial intelligence program that predicts 3D protein structures, recognized for its impact on protein chemistry.

Regulatory Signals

Nucleotide sequences that control gene expression by affecting transcription factors and their interactions with DNA.

Post-Transcriptional Modifications

Changes to RNA molecules after transcription that can affect gene expression and protein function.

Introns

Non-coding segments of a gene that are removed during RNA splicing.

Exons

Coding segments of a gene that are retained in the mature mRNA after splicing.

Genome Annotation

The process of identifying and marking the locations of genes and other features in a genome.

Technological Advancement

Progress in technology that enhances research capabilities, such as sequencing and data analysis.

Data Science Community

A collective of researchers and practitioners involved in data science, focusing on collaboration and training.

Actionable Genetic Defects

Genetic abnormalities that can be treated or addressed based on diagnosis, particularly in newborns.

WebAssembly

A web technology that allows software to run in web browsers without installation, enhancing user accessibility.