Bioinformatics")?> Recent progress in the technical analysis of biological structures opened new horizons of understanding. Thus new fields of mathematical analysis of these structures evolved. Mathematical algorithms for the analysis of organical structures can now be found in various biological research areas, e.g. in cell and molecular biology, neurobiology and genetics.

Sequencing genoms of whole organisms was a revolution in molecular biology and biotechnology. 10 micro organisms have already been sequenced completely (March 1997). Seven genoms are published, e.g. the eucaryont yeast with 12 million base pairs. The human genom is planned to be sequenced by the year 2005. The results are masses of data that cannot be processed by current methods of data analysis and modeling. Yeast, most recently sequenced completely, has about 6000 genes.

Even the task of getting an overview over this amount of data requires new methods of Data analysis. Just looking at sequence patterns, structures and functions of single genes, RNA molecules or proteins is not sufficient any more. We need new approaches to efficiently search and process large gene data bases, called "screening methods". Important aspects here are the revelation of evolutionary, structural and functional similarities. These methods have their source in computer science and mathematics. Thus the technolgy council of the German chancellor attaches great importance to the research areas bioinformatics and biotechnology.

In our institute the development of a main focus in bioinformatics is currently in progress. First studies in Pooling design in cooperation with the Los Alamos National Labs (USA) form a basis of our future research. Contact:")?>Frau Teuner
phone: 0221/470-6030
fax: 0221/470-5160
contact@zpr.uni-koeln.de