Bioinformatics

Sir - The field of bioinformatics is ever expanding. This paper only
highlights one aspect of bioinformatics, namely the application to the
study of genomics (1). In this post-genomic era, where the study of
proteomics and epigenetics are equally important in the understanding of
the fundamental mechanisms of disease processes, the broad perspective of
the application of bioinformatics in the medical field needs to be
appreciated. Bioinformatics utility in the area of imaging for the
management of cancers for the purpose of screening, diagnostics, staging
and treatment has been well described (2).

The contribution of bioinformatics in improving the role of imaging
in clinical practice is potentially tremendous (2, 3). A new dimension of
the role of bioinformatics in expanding the potentiality of biological
imaging as a tool in diagnostics and therapeutics unlimited by time and
space has been created recently(4). The advent of information technology
has opened up immense possibilities of innovation and creativity for the
existing information-rich modern medical practice ranging from diagnostic
to therapeutic processes. However, it is very apparent that there is a
lack of reference made to the application of bioinformatics in the field
of electron microscopy as a powerful imaging tool (4). This is
particularly relevant in the context of obtaining quantitative data set
from the image databases. The experience from Electron Microscopy
workstation which has been constructed with the in-built Energy-dispersive
Xray facility (EDAX) in order to provide some parallel quantitative data
of the imaged elements and compounds could provide some insights in that
direction(5).

There is an earnest effort to try to parallel the effort of applying
image informatics in the Open Microscopy Environment(OME) project to that
of the well-established genomics databases by which reference can be made
to identify any novel gene (4). The lack of congruence between the two
systems was ascribed to the failure of the current image bioinformatics to
yield quantitative data. Furthermore, it needs to remember that the
extensively available DNA databases are the “spill over” of the courageous
Human Genome Project over so many years. The genesis of OME from the
inception does not have the equivalent fore-runner and it is doubtful for
it to be a versatile reference database to be applied for any novel image
discovery to assist rare diagnosis. On the contrary, Genomic Databases
available are instrumental in guiding researches the world over with
regard to gene identifications.

In conclusion, Bioinformatics has become a mandatory composite
research tool in the broadest area of biomedical researches which will
provide enormous opportunity and impetus for the future. It is hoped that
future articles on bioinformatics published in the widely-read journal as
the BMJ will contain other biological areas apart from genomics.

References

1. Ardeshir Bayat. Science, medicine, and the future –
Bioinformatics. BMJ 2002;324:1018-1022 ( 27 April )

2. Haque S, Mital D, Srinivasan S. Advances in Biomedical Informatics
for the management of Cancer. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 980 : 287-297(2002)

3. http://www2.dimag.com/pacsweb/

4. Jason R. Swedlow, Ilya Goldberg, Erik Brauner, and Peter K. Sorger
Informatics and Quantitative Analysis in Biological Imaging. Science Apr 4
2003: 100-102.

5. Che Ghazali FB, Mat Sain AH, Mat Asan J. High-resolution
Visualization And Microstructure Characterization of Mixed Biliary Stones.
Annals of Microscopy ; 3 : March 2003 ; pg 111-116

Competing interests:  
None declared