Analysis of DNA damage recognition and repair factor (XPA) in Homo sapiens

Bioinformatics is a relatively novel interdisciplinary science, incorporating biology, computer science, and statistics together with unique methods and software to tackle complex problems. The programs and databases utilized in bioinformatics allow for the aggregation of immense amounts of data, far more than could be done by hand. The human body, as well as any and all of its components, is too complicated to study without the aid of a computerized apparatus. The data used in any bioinformatics experiments is largely taken from a series of free online databases. (1)

 

These free online databases form the core bioinformatics study. They allow for the easy transfer of knowledge between all interested parties, from high school students to scientists with decades of research experience. One incredibly important aspect of these databases is that they are free to access and are not gated behind a paywall. These databases all have different focuses, and the more generalized ones will often provide numerous links to more specialized ones in order to facilitate easier research. For instance, using a BLAST search function on the NCBI website will link you to many other more specialized databases. (1)

 

This project is an exercise in navigating databases to determine if the partial amino acid we received actually codes for a protein, and, if so, what the structure and function of that protein is. This is a way to show that much can be learned and extrapolated from only a few amino acids. The gene, protein structure, protein function, and associated diseases could all be found from the short sequence provided to us. Given that the search for our protein alone included more than 400,000,000 possible results, it is quite easy to say that this would be an impossible undertaking without the computing power and sheer abundance of information granted by the branch of science known as bioinformatics.