Bioinformatics is a field at the intersection of math, computer science, statistics, and biology. It has developed as a result of technological advances that provide access to growing quantities of data on the environment, genomes, and gene variations. Bioinformatics can analyze data derived from genetic information contained in DNA sequences and the proteins they encode. It is also used to analyze and model interactions between genes, proteins, cells, and organisms using data provided by high-throughput analytical technologies such as proteomics and transcriptomics.

The study of viruses that infect bacteria—bacteriophages—led to the birth of molecular biology and the identification of the molecular mechanisms that govern cells. Virus biology has been instrumental in developing gene therapies used to treat some genetic diseases. Scientists are also turning to viruses as a tool to fight bacterial infections. Their research has also contributed to our understanding of the origins of life and the emergence of biodiversity on the planet.

It is possible to characterize and understand the effects of natural selection on the organization and evolution of genomes by studying the structure and function of species’ genomes. This field of study has benefitted significantly from the development of increasingly powerful computers. Comparative genomics makes it possible to identify genes and their non-coding regulatory sequences. Recent work on DNA sequencing has shown that all living species share many common features and that genetic distance is less significant than gene combination and hierarchy in the diversity of living organisms.

Functional genomics is the study of the function and expression of sequenced genes through characterization of the transcriptome and proteome. This work provides a better understanding of the biological function of a cell’s genes and the impact of a species’ genome on its biological functions.

Parasites live off their hosts, putting the host’s health and survival at risk. This triggers a reaction from the host, which tries to defend itself. Researchers study host-parasite interaction to understand the antagonistic relationships and the evolution of this arms race. In the end, the most resistant hosts are selected based on their ability to overcome parasites. Understanding these processes is significant for evolutionary ecology, agriculture, and species conservation.

The study of proteins that result from gene transcription is crucial for understanding organism function and dysfunction at the molecular level. Detailed knowledge of proteins paves the way for the discovery of new therapeutic agents, biodegradable materials, bioreactors for detoxification, and greener industrial biocatalysts.

Systems biology involves integrating various layers of information to understand how a biological system works. To do so, scientists study the relationships and interactions between different parts of a system like cells, genes, proteins in order to determine how the system works as a whole. High-throughput screening makes it possible to study an organism’s genes and proteins by quantifying changes to its genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome in the wake of any type of disturbance.