Bioinformatics during the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic drove the massive increase in demand for computing capacity. Pharmaceutical companies and research institutions using High Performance Computer (HPC) systems on a large scale in the field of bioinformatics and epidemiology (Northern Data AG, 2020). Bioinformatics is used for research on the virus and its possible treatments, analysing the coronavirus genome and its successive mutations, and searching for drugs and immune therapies (antibodies and vaccines) (BSC, 2020). The HPC speeds up the process of finding and validating disease treatment and vaccine. Bioinformatics institutes and companies have implemented dedicated platforms for COVID-19 information exchange. Crucially, the WHO has instituted a data sharing protocol through its online bulletin, which ensures that all research manuscripts relevant to the pandemic will be freely available. Much has been said on the explosion of the 4th Industrial Revolution and how it changes the way we work and live. The rise of cyberspace being the ultimate platform of work and play has resulted in the pressing need for technologies including IoT, AI, AR and the list goes on. Data is everything and can be considered an expensive commodity – Big data. We have witnessed how important is Data Analytics in improving products and services for a leaner and more efficient delivery of our work and life. In the wake of the pandemic COVID-19, apparently the availability of data and effective tools, equipment and relevant facilities are critical to accelerate the understanding of this killer virus’s behaviour and developing vaccine to combat its spread. Suddenly, biotechnology has received the limelight, due to its significance. Biotechnology has many interpretations and definitions. According to Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO), biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. There are many branches of it, including Bioinformatics. The areas of biotechnology offer an abundance of data, regardless of its discipline; be it healthcare, agriculture, industrial just to name a few and the data are complex and will go straight up to DNA level. DNA (deoxy-ribonucleic acid) is the hereditary material in an organism that acts as data storage.
Below are among the market segments of analytics software for Bioinformatics:
GENOMICS
DNA Sequence Analysis
Expression Analysis
CHEMINFORMANTICS
Compound Library Creation
High-throughput screening
PROTEOMICS
Protein Structure Determination
Protein-Protein Interaction
Protein Analysis
PHARMACOGENOMICS
SNP Identification and Validation
SNP Analysis and Genotyping
Managing anddeciphering the information hidden in these data will lead to breakthroughs and key to resolving food and health security issues; one notable achievement of Bioinformatics the is Human Genome Project. The recent advancement in machine learning, AI and other such technologies has greatly amplified the lengths of bioinformatics in deciphering these codes.
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Malaysian Technology Strategic Outlook 2019/2020 Intergration of High Technology
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