Seminar on INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS on 21 stFebruary 2025
2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, organized jointly by the Rai School of Engineering and CRI (Centre for Research and Innovation). The session was delivered by Mr. Deepak Krishna Vyas, a distinguished expert in bioinformatics and computational biology, bringing deep insights from both academic and industrial research sectors.
The seminar offered students a foundational understanding of bioinformatics—an interdisciplinary field that merges biology, computer science, mathematics, and data analytics. Mr. Vyas began by explaining the critical role of bioinformatics in managing, analyzing, and interpreting vast biological datasets generated by modern laboratory techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and proteomics.
Key topics covered included DNA and Protein Sequencing, Structural Bioinformatics, Comparative Genomics, and Systems Biology. Students were introduced to major biological databases like GenBank, PDB (Protein Data Bank), and UniProt, and learned about algorithms and tools such as BLAST, FASTA, and Clustal Omega for sequence alignment and evolutionary analysis.
The session highlighted the practical applications of bioinformatics in disease diagnosis, vaccine development, personalized medicine, and drug discovery. Real-world examples demonstrated how bioinformatics has accelerated the understanding of complex diseases like cancer, HIV, and COVID-19, leading to faster therapeutic innovations.
Mr. Vyas discussed the integration of machine learning and AI in genomics research, including predictive modeling for identifying gene functions, disease markers, and potential drug targets. Students also gained insights into computational challenges in big biological data management, emphasizing the importance of data cleaning, storage, and ethical considerations in handling genetic information.
Career opportunities in bioinformatics were a major highlight of the session. Mr. Vyas outlined potential job roles such as Bioinformatics Analyst, Computational Biologist, Data Scientist in Life Sciences, and Genomics Researcher. He also emphasized the rising demand for bioinformatics professionals in sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, academic research, healthcare analytics, and agricultural genomics.
To provide practical exposure, Mr. Vyas demonstrated simple bioinformatics pipelines using freely available tools and discussed the basics of scripting for biological data analysis with languages like Python and R. He encouraged students to pursue certifications, MOOCs, and specialized training programs to deepen their expertise.
The seminar concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where students inquired about study resources, project ideas, and internship opportunities in bioinformatics. Participants expressed great enthusiasm, recognizing the immense potential of bioinformatics in shaping the future of healthcare, biotechnology, and sustainable living. The seminar offered a robust introduction to one of the fastest-growing scientific fields, inspiring students to explore interdisciplinary research and technological innovation at the intersection of biology and computing.
