Concepts, Historical Milestones and the Central Place of Bioinformatics in Modern Biology: A European Perspective

Best practices in bioinformatics training for life scientists

“…Novel data-distribution mechanisms had to be invented to ensure that the new resources were reaching their target audiences. The European Molecular Biology Network (EMBnet), for example, pioneered the distribution of the EMBL Data Library [1] from the EMBL in Heidelberg to national data centres holding government mandates to provide access to this and other bioinformatics databases and tools to their local communities [this model is now being adopted, on a much larger scale, by ELIXIR (http://www.elixir-europe.org/), a pan-European endeavour to provide a sustainable infrastructure for biological information, and which will generate even greater training needs] [2]. Such distribution networks solved many problems for data providers but demanded a certain level of end-user computational competence: first, to be able to login to a remote, centralized site; second, to be able to find and access the relevant databases or software tools on the remote system; and finally, to be able to export any results back to the local computer.…”

Providing Secure Access to Biologically Inspired Databases Using CAPTCHA

“…There are constant need to analyze this data as it's gathered from various sources which includes libraries of life sciences information, scientific experiments, clinical studies, published literature, high-throughput experiment technology, and computational analyses [1] [22] [23] [24] [25]. These databases contain information from research areas, which includes genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microarray gene expression, and phylogenetics [2] as well as it includes information like gene function, structure, localization (both cellular and chromosomal), clinical effects of mutations as well as similarities of biological sequences and structures.…”

EMBnet.journal 19.1

“…However, notwithstanding EMBnet's history and substantial contributions to the field of bioinformatics during the past three decades (e.g., see Attwood et al, 2011), in 2010, the Executive Board 6 set out a vision for a new EMBnet, one that would allow it to evolve more effectively as a global organisation. Amongst its key recommendations, the Executive Board suggested that there was an urgent need to: 1. review, streamline and clarify EMBnet's current membership scheme; 2. review how EMBnet might form strategic alliances with other bioinformatics networks and organisations; 3. consider how it might compete more strategically in global funding calls; 4. review the evolving role and internal structure of EMBnet.journal, and consider more tactical publishing strategies; and, in light of these considerations, 5. review and revamp EMBnet's current name, brand and website.…”