Bioinformatics, also called computational biology, is a rapidly growing field that uses
computers as a central tool for biological analysis and discovery. The advances in computer
technology over the past few decades have been paralleled by similar advances in DNA sequencing
technology and genomics research. Modern biotechnology and genomics research produces
massive amounts of data such as EST and genomic DNA sequences, microarray expression data,
and protein structure predictions. Online databases and analysis software hosted by web servers
now provide dozens of tools that are freely available on the internet. These new bioinformatics
databases and tools are being applied towards a variety of fields in agricultural biotechnology. The
following paper will review basic and applied research in bioinformatics, including applications for
analyzing genetic diversity data, using complete genome sequence for more precise mapping and
marker-assisted selection, and performing candidate gene analysis to enable transgenic
applications. As bioinformatics becomes an essential component in modern research, priority
should be given to supporting new bioinformatics equipment, projects, and training to allow
Indonesia to continue to pursue cutting-edge research in agricultural biotechnology. |