One of the latest technologies to sequence or “read” all the information contained in the DNA of different organisms. Image by: TGAC

In our event in June we are running two Big Data Zones: the Genomics Zone and the Bioinformatics Zone co-funded by The Genome Analysis Centre and The Wellcome Trust.

Scientists in the Genomics Zone are studying the genomes of all living things. Our bodies are made of millions of cells, each of them containing a complete instruction manual telling them how to make all the bits that make up that cell, and how to make them work together. This instruction manual comes in the form of DNA and it is called the genome.

In the Genomics Zone we have scientists looking at the content of genomes in everything from tomatoes to sand-hoppers. We also have scientists studying the genome of virus or bacteria to learn more about how their living instructions work, and how we can use that knowledge to fight against them…

The scientists in the Bioinformatics Zone use computer science and maths to read and translate biological and medical data. All the information is later stored in giant databases, which are often shared with the scientists living all around the world. This means that a scientist in the UK might be analysing data generated on the other side of the planet! Looking into these growing collections of data often requires the use of super-computers.  In the Bioinformatics Zone you will meet five different scientists, from PhD students to Professors, working in this emerging field!