What is Computational Biology? Bioinformatics? Genome-scale Biology?
Computational Biology and bioinformatics are basically two different aspects of using computers to analyze large-scale biological data sets. They involve the development of novel computational approaches for analysis, storage, visualization and modeling of biological data. This includes development of new algorithms, databases, and visualization systems and application of data mining and machine learning techniques to solve biological problems in areas such as gene function characterization, genome analysis, protein structure, and computational medicine. Genome-scale biology refers to the use of high-throughput methods, such as genome sequencing, yeast two-hybrid screens, ChIP-chip, TAP-tagging followed by MS-MS to characterize biological systems. Computational methods are integral to interpreting the data generated by such studies.