BIOINFORMATICS - A NEW TOPIC FOR STUDY

Bioinformatics, a new study area is a combination of computer technology and biology. The main application of it in Genetic engineering and pharmaceutical science. This is suitable for the students who have computer and biological aptitude.

Study topics

Data structure & Algorithm, Genomics & Proteomics, Molecular Biology, Computer Language & Algorithm, Gene Mapping & Sequencing are the important study topics. In addition, you need to get in the computer tools like Matlab. Scientifically analyzing the researcher’s information regarding RNA, DNA, and Protein Sequence using a computer software and finding the results is the main task of it. It is a mathematical and Statistical application in life science.

Main Institutions

Many institutions in India provide an opportunity to study Bio Informatics in Bachelor's Degree (B.Sc, B.Tech), Post Graduate (M.Sc, M.Tech) and Research Degree (M.Phil, Ph.D). There are no institutes that offer professional degree in graduation level in Kerala. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Science and Technology University Thanjavur are also entitled to Bachelor of Engineering in Bio Informatics  Engineering (B.Tech, B.E). B.Sc (Hons) is available at North Orissa University. There is an MSc course in MA College of Advanced Studies, Tiruvalla, Kerala. Bio Informatics Center at the University of Kerala has started M.Phil Bioinformatics and M.Sc Computational Biology Program. The Pune Bio-Bioinformatics Study Center is the nation's premier institution. MSc course and research facilities for M.Phil and PhD are available here. Madras, Hyderabad, Pondicherry, Annamalai, and Banaras Hindu are offering postgraduate degrees in Bio Informatics. The National Institute of Immunology (www.nii.res.in/bioinfo.html) Delhi Aruna Asafali Road, along with well-known institutions of higher education including IITs and IISc are provided the doctoral degree in the subject.

Job Opportunities

Currently there are many opportunities in pharmaceutical companies. Research scholars in the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology (http://rgcb.res.in), Bangalore Biocon, etc are the promising positions in this field. There are many opportunities for Bioinformatics professionals in Geen Findinge, Genom Assembly, Protein sequences analysis, and protein structural analysis in health and healthcare labs. The Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India has also initiated the Certification Scheme called BioInformatics National Certification (BINC) with the academic partnership of Pune University.

Those who choose to take a different course in this particular area should be able to build a better career in the field of graduation rather than postgraduate degree, doctorate and post doctoral qualifications.

Those who choose a different career like this should do a postgraduate, doctoral and post doctoral level degrees for getting a bright future.