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Expanding bioinformatics: Toward a paradigm shift from data to theory

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary, fast-developing, and broad-ranging field, coevolving with and empowered by advanced technologies across multiple related disciplines. Given the ever-growing volume of biological data generated at multiple levels and scales, bioinformatics represents a holistic approach to decipher the complexity of biological systems and thus holds significant potential to realize a paradigm shift by transforming data to theory. Here I articulate a vision of expanding bioinformatics from data to theory that paves the way for the paradigm shift in biology, which can consolidate fragmented research findings within a theoretical framework, drive theory-guided AI modelling and experimentation with enhanced explainability and reduced parameter space, drive biological research from a holistic perspective, and further strengthen the identity and coherence of bioinformatics as a discipline.

Source: Fundamental Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2024.11.019

Author: Zhang Zhang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Institute of Genomics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Key Research and Development Program of China

Awards: G1904268823, G2184357362, G4994872625