BOL: Related items

Orange-Bioinformatics 2.5.34

Robert M Willioms — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:51:37 -0500

Orange Bioinformatics extends Orange, a data mining software package, with common functionality for bioinformatics. The provided functionality can be accessed as a Python library or through a visual programming interface (Orange Canvas). The latter is also suitable for non-programmers.

Orange Bioinformatics provides access to publicly available data, like GEO data sets, Biomart, GO, KEGG, Atlas, ArrayExpress, and PIPAx database. As for the analytics, there is gene selection, quality control, scoring distances between experiments with multiple factors. All features can be combined with powerful visualization, network exploration and data mining techniques from the Orange data mining framework.

Address of the bookmark: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/Orange-Bioinformatics/2.5.34

Unlocking Evolutionary Secrets: A Dive into Comparative Genomics Methods

LEGE — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:25:09 -0500

Comparative genomics is the art and science of comparing genomes—across species, within species, or even among individuals—to unravel evolutionary relationships, functional elements, and genetic adaptations. As sequencing technologies have advanced and genome databases have expanded, comparative genomics has become a cornerstone of modern biology, shedding light on everything from antibiotic resistance in bacteria to human disease genetics.

In this post, we’ll explore the core methods used in comparative genomics, the questions they help answer, and how they’re shaping our understanding of life.

1. Whole-Genome Alignment
Whole-genome alignment involves mapping the entire genome of one species to another. Tools like MUMmer, MAUVE, and LASTZ perform large-scale sequence alignments to detect conserved regions, rearrangements, insertions, and deletions.

Use Case:
Comparing human and chimpanzee genomes to identify evolutionary conserved sequences (ECS) and regions of divergence.

Key Challenges:
Handling repetitive sequences and genome rearrangements.

Computational complexity in large genomes.

2. Synteny and Collinearity Analysis
Synteny refers to conserved blocks of gene order across species. Tools like MCScanX, SynMap, or CHITRA (for visualizing synteny interactively) detect these blocks to understand chromosomal evolution.

Use Case:
Studying ancient genome duplications in plants.

Investigating chromosomal rearrangements in cancer genomes.

3. Ortholog and Paralog Detection
Orthologs are genes in different species that evolved from a common ancestor, while paralogs are genes duplicated within a genome. Identifying them is crucial for functional annotation and evolutionary studies.

Popular Tools:
OrthoFinder, Orthologous MAtrix (OMA), InParanoid, and EggNOG.

Use Case:
Functional prediction of uncharacterized genes based on orthologs in model organisms.

Tracing gene family evolution.

4. Phylogenomic Analysis
Phylogenomic methods combine phylogenetics and genomics to infer evolutionary trees based on genome-wide data. These methods can handle dozens to hundreds of genomes, using concatenated alignments or gene trees.

Tools:
RAxML, IQ-TREE, ASTRAL, Phylip, BEAST.

Use Case:
Resolving the evolutionary relationships between microbial species.

Studying speciation events.

5. Pan-Genome Analysis
The pan-genome consists of the core genome (shared by all strains) and the accessory genome (strain-specific genes). This is especially popular in microbial genomics.

Tools:
Roary, Panaroo, BPGA, PGAP.

Use Case:
Understanding virulence factor diversity in E. coli.

Designing broad-spectrum vaccines.

6. Comparative Transcriptomics
Comparing transcriptomes across species or conditions reveals conserved and unique expression patterns. RNA-seq data can be mapped to reference genomes to identify orthologous expression profiles.

Use Case:
Comparing stress response in extremophiles and model species.

Studying conserved regulatory networks.

7. Functional Element Comparison
Beyond genes, comparative genomics also targets non-coding regions—enhancers, promoters, miRNAs. Conservation across species often implies functional importance.

Tools:
PhastCons, GERP, phyloP (based on multiple alignments).

Use Case:
Detecting conserved non-coding elements in vertebrates.

Studying regulatory divergence in human evolution.

8. Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) Detection
In microbes, genes often jump across species boundaries. Comparative genomics can detect HGT by identifying genes that defy the expected phylogenetic pattern.

Tools:
HGTector, DarkHorse, AlienHunter, SIGI-HMM.

Use Case:
Tracing antibiotic resistance genes.

Exploring microbial adaptability in extreme environments.

Final Thoughts
Comparative genomics is a powerful lens to observe the diversity and unity of life. With a broad toolkit—from aligners to orthology pipelines, phylogenetic engines to visualization tools—it allows scientists to ask big questions: How did genomes evolve? What makes species unique? Where do new genes come from?

Whether you're studying extremophiles, building better crops, or exploring human ancestry, comparative genomics offers the methods to connect the dots across the tree of life.

CV of Dr. Pranjal Chandra

Pranjal Chandra PhD — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:15:25 -0500

Biinformamatics Lead at Google Life Sciences

Fri, 17 Oct 2014 02:24:55 -0500

Google Life Sciences is recruiting a technical lead with experience in bioinformatics and clinical bioinformatics, including for biomarker discovery projects such as the Baseline study.

Responsibilities

Lead teams of scientists in structuring, prototyping, and executing large-scale bioinformatic and other analysis.
Develop novel bioinformatics, statistical, data processing, pathway, data mining and other algorithms to identify biological signals and their clinical correlates in broad kinds of individual and population data.
Develop novel platform-level analytical tools for sequence-based assays (assembly, annotation, variant calling and interpretation, phasing, genome structure, etc.), expression assays (RNAseq and microarray), proteomics, and metabolomics.
Develop statistical models that robustly correlate complex laboratory-derived information with phenotypic and clinical information.
Create scientifically rigorous visualizations, communications, and presentations of results.

Reference @ https://www.google.com/about/careers/search#!t=jo&jid=62095001

"Advances in Molecular Dynamics of Biomolecules" December 3-4, 2013 @ JNU

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 10:20:10 -0500

The extensive growth of computational power and resources over the last two decades has led to a remarkable progress in the large scale simulations at the molecular level. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have been an invaluable tool in elucidating the structural, physico-chemical and dynamic properties of various types of materials both in biology and material science, complementing experimental information. With the state-of -the –art computers, it is currently possible to simulate systems containing several thousands of atoms ranging from hundreds of nanoseconds to microseconds and milliseconds! Since simulation algorithms combine domain knowledge from various disciplines of basic science and computer programming, training manpower in such interdisciplinary fields may be hardly achieved within the boundaries of a prescribed academic curriculum. Thus it is of interest of the academic institutions to conduct regular workshops to advance the existing knowledge in the emerging research areas like Molecular Dynamics of biomolecules.

The objective of this conference is two-fold:

Understanding different algorithms of MD and their relevant applications.
Hands-on practical exercises using NAMD.

More at http://ccbb.jnu.ac.in/advmdbio/

BIRAC Innovation Fellowships Qualification & Eligibility

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 02:12:37 -0500

BIRAC Innovation Fellowships are highly competitive and prestigious. Under each University Innovation Clusters there are two Post-Doctoral and four Post Masters position.

Stipend / Fellowship (consolidated)
Post-doctoral = Rs 50,000 per month
Post Masters = Rs 30,000 per month.

Duration of Fellowships:
Both Post-Doctoral and Post-Masters fellowships are for two years extendable to one more year depending on the progress of the project and decision of the technical committee.

The University Innovation Clusters established at the five Universities have their broad scientific areas under which BIRAC Innovation Fellows will be selected. The qualification and eligibility of each UIC has been mentioned below.

Who can apply?
BIRAC along with five UICs invites research proposals from:

 Applicants who have completed their Master/ Ph.D. on and after 1st January 2014 for
Post Masters and Post-Doctoral BIRAC Innovation Fellowships

Applicants will have to submit an online application in the prescribed format. Each application will be reviewed by an expert committee at each UIC, which applicant has chosen. Applications will be identified on the identified criteria. Selected applicants will be called for a detailed project presentation and personal interview in front of an expert committee for final selection of the BIRAC Innovation Fellows.

Mere fulfilling the eligibility criterion does not entitle applicants to be called for interview.

More at http://birac.nic.in/webcontent/UIC_Fellowships_Qualification_Eligibility.pdf

Exchange Programme for Indian scientist !!

Shruti Paniwala — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:11:22 -0600

The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a premier scientific learned body (established in 1935) representing all branches of science –Physical and Biological Sciences including Engineering, Medicine and Agricultural Sciences. The Academy has been promoting scientific cooperation with Academies/Organisations of several countries the world over. The Academy has links with the Academies and Organisations in Asia, Europe
and South America. These programmes provide opportunities to scientists working in various scientific institutions and organizations in the country for exchange of ideas, knowledge, establish new links, strengthen old links and undertake joint projects with their research partners in leading laboratories and institutions abroad.

The Academy has an International Exchange Programme with Academies/Organizations in the countries: Brazil, China, France, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Scotland, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Sudan and Taiwan.

Applications are invited from Indian Nationals for consideration by the Academy for the next calendar year.

The applicant should be a scientist holding a regular (permanent) position in a recognized S & T Institution/University and actively engaged in research work in frontline areas.
He/She should not have been abroad during the last 3 years under any INSA Programme.
The scientist should have been accepted to work in an Institute/Laboratory in the country to be visited and this should be supported by a letter of invitation from the host abroad.
Those who wish to visit abroad for three months should submit a detailed programme of their collaborative research work to be conducted.

All applications duly completed should be forwarded to the academy through proper channel by the employer/head of the Institute.

Scientists selected for deputation abroad would be provided 100% travel support (by only Air India excursion class airfare, through shortest route from the place of duty in India to the nearest airport of host Institute and back) by INSA.
Medical Insurance purchased in India.
Visa fee (if any).
The receiving Academy/Organization would provide local hospitality including internal travel abroad.

Contact for detail at

www.insaindia.res.in

INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENCE ACADEMY
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002.
Telephone: 91-11-23221931 – 23221950 (EPABX),
Fax: 91-11- 23235648, 23231095

Chirag Lab at IISc

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 01:44:37 -0500

My research lab develops efficient computational algorithms for data-intensive problems in biology. In response to challenging computational problems, we design solutions that are provably-good, scalable in practice, and useful for life scientists to draw new insights from high-throughput data.

Research Interests
• Bioinformatics / computational biology
• Algorithms for genome sequencing
• Applied graph / combinatorial / discrete algorithms
• Algorithms design and analysis
• High performance computing

More at https://at-cg.github.io/

List of universities offering Bachelor or Master bioinformatics degree in Pakistan

Reshma Khatun — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 04:20:43 -0500

There are a lot of universities offering Bachelor or Master degree in Pakistan. Following are the list of few intitute/universities

Bachelor/ BS Bioinformatics at
1. Al-khair University, Bhimber
2. Government College University, Faisalabad
3. University Of Agriculture, Faisalabad
4. Comsats Institute Of Information Technology [isb], Islamabad
5. International Islamic University, Islamabad
6. Quaid-e-azam University, Islamabad
7. Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak
8. Virtual University Of Pakistan, Lahore
9. Virtual University Of Pakistan, Lahore
10. Hazara University, Mansehra
11. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar
12. Comsats Institute Of Information Technology, Sahiwal
13. Capital University Of Science And Technology, Islamabad
14. Foundation University, Islamabad
15. Baqai Medical University/hospital, Karachi
16. Institute Of Business And Technology(main Campus), Karachi
17. Sir Syed University Of Engineering & Technology, Karachi
18. Forman Christian College, Lahore
19. Qarshi University (lhr), Lahore
20. The Superior University, Lahore
21. University Of Management And Technology, Lahore
22. Federal Institute Of Health Sciences, Lahore
23. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar, Sub Campus, Swabi
24. Government Postgraduate College ( Mandian), Abbottabad
25. Federal Institute Of Health Sciences, Multan
26. Fedral Institute Of Health Sciences, Muzaffarabad
27. The Limit Institution Of Health Sciences, Sahiwal

Master/ MS Bioinformatics cources at
1. Government College University, Faisalabad
2. Comsats Institute Of Information Technology [isb], Islamabad
3. International Islamic University, Islamabad
4. National University Of Science & Technology, Islamabad
5. Quaid-e-azam University, Islamabad
6. University Of Sindh, Jamshoro
7. Virtual University Of Pakistan, Lahore
8. Hazara University, Mansehra
9. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar
10. Capital University Of Science And Technology, Islamabad
11. Cecos University Of Information Tech. & Emerging Sciences, Peshawar

There is a huge buzz of precision medicine in light of genomics all around the world. One should also try to see how genomics infrastructure is built up or standing in Pakistan. If research labs having collaboration with hospitals employ genomics then one must also visit such labs. This will bring new avenues in healthcare advances. Not only it opens up the wealth of knowledge one can make out of genomics study but will also advance the critical thinking of therapies.

So I would encourage to target research labs working in the fields and also get information of hospitals employing genomics, this will give you an overall understanding of the fields demand in your country.

List of universities offering Bachelor, Master or PhD bioinformatics degree in Malaysia

sahabuddin — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 01:34:02 -0500

Bioinformatics is a newly emerging interdisciplinary research area, which may be defined as the ―interface between biological and computational sciences. Most of the Bioinformatics work that is done can be described as analyzing biological data, although a growing number of projects deal with the organization of biological information. The global Bioinformatics industry has grown at a double-digit growth rate in the past and is expected to follow the same pattern in the next four years. US remains the largest market in the world, but Asia-Pacific countries, particularly India and China, are witnessing the fastest growth and are anticipated to emerge as the dominating forces in future. The Comparison of Bioinformatics Industry between Malaysia, India and other countries are discussed in this http://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol.%202_No._10;_June_2011/11.pdf paper.

Bioinformatics is full of opportunities. The sector is poised to open new avenues for the other related sectors also. But the biggest opportunity area in the Bioinformatics market will be in the drug discovery sector. Reduction of both the cost and time taken to discover a new drug due to fast development in the Bioinformatics tools and software zone is also making drug discovery an attractive field to venture in. Malaysian bioinformatics growth and future are discuss in this https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2723929/ paper. Keeping all such inportance in mind, following universities in Malaysia offering bioinformatics cources:

3 program(s) at AIMST University, Malaysia

Master of Science in Biotechnology (MSc) - Bioinformatics by Research

Master of Science (M.Sc) in Medical Microbiology (Bioinformatics) by Research

Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology (PhD) - Bioinformatics by Research

1 program(s) at INTI International University and Colleges, Malaysia

American Degree Transfer Program (Biosciences) in Bioinformatics

3 program(s) at Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia

Master in Bioinformatics (By Research)

PhD in Bioinformatics

Bachelor in Bioinformatics (Hons)

1 program(s) at Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Bioinformatics

1 program(s) at Universiti Industri Selangor (UNISEL) Bestari Jaya Campus, Malaysia

Bachelor of Bioinformatics (Hons)

2 program(s) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics (By Research)

MSc - Master of Science in Bioinformatics (By Research)

6 program(s) at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia

MSc - Master of Science in Bioinformatics by Research

Master of Science in Bioinformatics and System Biology by Research

Master of Science (M.Sc) in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (With Thesis)

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics by Research

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (With Thesis)

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics and System Biology by Research

1 program(s) at Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), Malaysia

Bachelor of Bioinformatics (Hons)

3 program(s) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia

M.Sc - Master of Science (Bioscience) in Bioinformatics Research Group (BIRG) By Research

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Bioscience) in Bioinformatics Research Group (BIRG) By Research

Bachelor of Computer Science (BioInformatics)

4 program(s) at University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia

MSc - Master of Science in Bioinformatics by Research

Master in Bioinformatics by Coursework

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics by Research

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Bioinformatics

3 program(s) at Perdana University, Malaysia

Master in Bioinformatics (By Research)

PhD in Bioinformatics

Bachelor in Bioinformatics (Hons)

3 program(s) at Monash University, Malaysia

Master in Bioinformatics (By Research)

PhD in Bioinformatics

Bachelor in Bioinformatics (Hons)

The real bioinformatics scope lies if there are research labs which work in this field. One has to take account of that. If so then try to get information of those labs and visit them to get a hang of the work they pursue. For detail Bioinformatics in Malaysia: Hope, Initiative, Effort, Reality, and Challenges are discussed in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2723929/ paper.