1. Introduction to Bioinformatics Yana Kortsarts Bob Morris

2. What is Bioinformatics? Bioinformatics is Bioinformatics is the use of computers to study biology Bioinformatics is the science of using information to understand biology integration of information technology (IT) and biology Bioinformatics is integration of information technology (IT) and biology

3. What is Bioinformatics? Bioinformatics is interdisciplinary field bringing together biology, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and information theory to analyze biological data for interpretation and prediction Bioinformatics is interdisciplinary field bringing together biology, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and information theory to analyze biological data for interpretation and prediction Bioinformatics is the subset of larger field of Computational Biology Bioinformatics is the subset of larger field of Computational Biology

4. Some Terminology Cell is a primary unit of life Cell is a primary unit of life Cell consists of molecules, chemical reactions and a copy of the genome for that organism Cell consists of molecules, chemical reactions and a copy of the genome for that organism All life on this planet depends on three types of molecules: DNA, RNA and proteins All life on this planet depends on three types of molecules: DNA, RNA and proteins

5. Some Terminology DNA DNA –Holds information on how cell works RNA RNA –Acts to transfer short pieces of information to different parts of cell –Provide templates to synthesize into protein Proteins Proteins –Form enzymes that send signals to other cells and regulate gene activity –Form body’s major components (e.g. hair, skin, etc.)

6. DNA deoxyribonucleic acid Genetic material Genetic material Consists of two long strands Consists of two long strands Each strand is made of: Each strand is made of: –Phosphates –Sugar –Nucleotides A (adenine) A (adenine) G (guanine) G (guanine) C ( cytosine) C ( cytosine) T (thymine) T (thymine)

7. DNA – double helix structure

8. More Terminology The “parental” strand of DNA is complementary to the “child” strand The “parental” strand of DNA is complementary to the “child” strand Base pairing: A- T and C- G Base pairing: A- T and C- G Orientation: two strands of DNA are antiparallel:5’/3’ - 3’/5 Orientation: two strands of DNA are antiparallel:5’/3’ - 3’/5 5’-GTATCC-3’ and 3’-CATAGG-5’ 5’-GTATCC-3’ and 3’-CATAGG-5’ Two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule are reverse complements of each other Two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule are reverse complements of each other

9. DNA, RNA DNA in each cell provides the full genetic blueprint for that cell and for all other cells in the organism DNA in each cell provides the full genetic blueprint for that cell and for all other cells in the organism RNA – ribonucleic acid RNA – ribonucleic acid RNA: no T base, U instead T in RNA RNA: no T base, U instead T in RNA DNA is mostly inert, serve as a static repository of information DNA is mostly inert, serve as a static repository of information RNA is more chemically active, can carry short messages from DNA to the cellular machinery that builds protein RNA is more chemically active, can carry short messages from DNA to the cellular machinery that builds protein

10. Gene and Genom DNA is a genetic material DNA is a genetic material Gene is a segment of DNA Gene is a segment of DNA The genome of an organism is its set of chromosomes, containing all of its genes and associated DNA The genome of an organism is its set of chromosomes, containing all of its genes and associated DNA

11. The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Information has been transferred from DNA (information storage molecule) to RNA (information transfer molecule) to a specific protein (a functional, non- coding product) Information has been transferred from DNA (information storage molecule) to RNA (information transfer molecule) to a specific protein (a functional, non- coding product) DNARNAProtein transcriptiontranslation