Product Description

Bioinformatics - the application of computational and analytical methods to biological problems - is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline. Genome sequencing projects are producing vast amounts of biological data for many different organisms, and, increasingly, storing these data in public databases. Such biological databases are growing exponentially, along with the biological literature. It is impossible for even the most zealous researcher to stay on top of necessary information in the field without the aid of computer-based tools. Bioinformatics is all about building these tools. "Developing Bioinformatics Computer Skills" is for scientists and students who are learning computational approaches to biology for the first time, as well as for experienced biology researchers who are just starting to use computers to handle their data. The book covers the Unix file system, building tools and databases for bioinformatics, computational approaches to biological problems, an introduction to Perl for bioinformatics, data mining, and data visualization. The book aims to help biologists develop a structured approach to biological data as well as the tools they'll need to analyze the data.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #283494 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 442 pages

Review
'... the authors have produced a book which really is a 'must read' for the newcomer to bioinformatics'. European Bioinformatics Institute

Brandon King, Cerritos Linux Users Group, April 2002
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book to Computer Scientists, Biologists, and even people already involved in Bioinformatics.

Bryan William Jones, Applelust.com, August 2002
Well written, properly organized, and a worthwhile investment for those interested in the field from a purely academic sense or applied.

Customer Reviews

It tells you what can be done but not how to do it.
I found this book to be little more than a very basic introduction to bioinformatics. If you want a book to tell you what can be done then it useful, but it goes into very little detail. The ground it attempts to cover is far too large, it runs through an introduction to databases, LINUX and PERL. If you are interested in these you will need to buy a proper book for each subject.

The book would have been a lot better if they had run through some examples of what you can do, showing you what can be done along the way.

The authors should also acknowledge that most biologists only use Windows PCs and Macs rather than just concentrate on LINUX. It should have also mentioned that OS-X is based upon UNIX and lots of the LINUX things can be done on that OS too.

A decent if cursory reference to current tools
Firstly this book is entirely Unix/Linux based, which may cut out many casual laboratory users. This is par for the course in bioinformatics but not strictly necessary. It has a few chapters to get you started on Linux set-up, and a very, very light grounding in molecular biology. The brief explanation of Perl programming, and databases is hardly sufficient other than as an eye-opener. It is a probable time saver as a good current reference to the available free bioinformatics web-sites and tools.

Possibly the authors are trying to cater to people who either know very little molecular biology (computing students), or very little computing (biologists). Perhaps there are two books yet to be written: one for each group.