Bioinformatics for beginners

Bioinformatics is defined in simple terms as the ``field of science in which biology, computer science and information technology merge to form a single discipline". It can alternatively be defined as ''the use of information technology to acquire, store, manage, share, analyse, represent and transmit genetic data''. Bioinformatics is also defined as the use of computer science, mathematics, and information theory to model and analyse biological systems, especially systems involving genetic material. The ultimate goal of the field of bioinformatics is to create a global perspective from which underlying principles in biology can be discerned. It thus enables the discovery of scientific principles upon which biological systems are built, and promotes innovative discoveries using logical conclusions arrived at from true and reliable data. In brief, bioinformatics involves the study of information content and information flow in biological systems and processes.