McClure Lab

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McClure Lab
B I O I N F O R M A T I C S
M c C L U R E
Living on the edge of statistics!
L A B
O F
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What is Bioinformatics?What are the job
opportunities in Bioinformatics ?How Do We
Train Students in Bioinformatics? How is
Bioinformatic Research Conducted?
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Whats in a name?
Genomics--DNA/RNA Transcriptomics--RNA Proteomics-
-Proteins Phenomics--Proteins Operomics--NA/Protei
ns Biological Informatics In silico research
Computational Biology Bioinformatics Phrase of
the month!
McClure, 2000
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Computational Biology is biology that cannot be
done without the intensive use of computers.
There are many domains in Computational Biology
Physiology
Structural Biology
Ecology Evolutionary Biology
Bioinformatics
McClure, 2000
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What is Bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics is the creation of new knowledge
from existing data. This type of research takes
place in silico and includes the development
and testing of the software tools necessary to
analyze the data.
McClure, 2000
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Where do the data come from? Example Databases
literature
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MKLVDDYTR
New knowledge
McClure, 2000
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Bioinformatics
New Knowledge
Structure
Evolution
Function
McClure, 2000
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Infrastructure Hardware Software
Data Genomes Proteomics Gene Expression
Research Bioinformatics
Training
Ph.D.
M.A.
B.A.
Service Providers Research Staff Principle
Investigators
Academia
Industry
Government
McClure 2002
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Multidisciplinary Nature of Bioinformatics
Biological Sciences
How much of which does who need to learn?
Computer and Systems Science
Mathematics and Statistics
McClure 2002
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What classes do you need for Bioinformatics?
General Chemistry Organic Chemistry Biochemistry M
olecular Biology Genetics Molecular
Evolution Beginning and Advanced Bioinformatics
classes Introduction to Computer
Science Statistics and Probability
Theory Beginning and Advanced Programming
classes
McClure, 2003
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The Bioethics of the Human Genome Project

• Marcella A.McClure, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor
• Department of Microbiology and Center for
  Computational Biology
• mars_at_parvati.msu.montana.edu

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Status of the Human Genome Project

• 3,200,000 Kbp of the euchromatic portion of the
  human chromosomes are being sequenced
• Heterochromatic portion is not being done
• As of July, 2003
• Non-redundant sequence only
• 99.9 of euchromatic portion has been done

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WHOSE GENOME GOT SEQUENCED?

• The public, government run Human Genome Project
  is a composite of the
• genetic information of 21individuals
  representing the diversity of the human
• species. So this information represents the
  Human Genome and not a specific
• ethnicity or class of humans.
• Humans are more that 99 identical to one
  another. Therefore, the
• reference genome can be used to study all of
  our basic functions
• as well as the variation in individual human
  genomes that may cause disease
• and drug responsiveness. The simplest form of
  variation is called the single
• nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).
• Regions of the human genome that exhibit
  polymorphism are being sequenced
• to provide references for different ethnic
  populations for diagnosis or disorders.

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Don't Fuck with 4 Billion Years of Evolution
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BIOETHICS, the definitionThe ethics of applying
biological technology and information to
individuals.
ETHICS, the definitionthe standard or moral
code of a philosopher, government, religion,
profession or any other group
McClure,2002
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Who decides the standards or moral code of
Bioethics?The technology information
revolution in biology is creating a new world. We
as students, teachers, researchers, citizens and
human beings have to participate in shaping this
world.
WE DO
McClure,2002
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Scientists produce information and
technology. Biological scientists produce
medically and agriculturally relevant
information and technologies. Humans now have
the knowledge to change the course of their own
evolution via genetic consulting and
engineering. The initial implementation of this
knowledge will be costly and have far reaching
implications for all life on this planet. How do
we even go about learning how to emotionally hand
this knowledge let alone make informed,
consensual decisions about its implementation?
McClure,2002
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Bioethics is a Big Field
Cloning, stem cell research etc
Impact of Genome Projects
BIOETHICS
Animals, Plants Humans, Agriculture,
Industry. Ecosystem
Clinical Aspects Equal Access IssuesInformational
Access
Privacy Issues Ethnic populations Right to
Work Right to Healthcare
Genetic Discrimination Who defines perfect?
What is perfect? Variation as advantage.
Legal Status
McClure,2002
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