As one of the key disciplines in modern biology, bioinformatics is a rapidly developing science. Consequently, each of the past BGRS events was focused on the most important topics of that time. To keep this tradition going, BGRS\SB-2010 was centered on bioinformatics and systems biology.
Systems biology largely focuses on the study of the organization and operation of the biological systems at various levels: molecular genetic entities, cells, tissues, organs and organisms on the basis of information encoded in their genomes and strongly depends on high-performance experimental technologies:
- sequencing of genomic DNA, analysis of its between-population and evolutionary variation;
- study of the expression of genes and gene complexes using biochips-based modalities;
- structural and functional analysis of proteins and metabolites using mass spectrometric methods;
- study of the structural and functional organization of biological objects (macromolecules, chromosomes, cells, tissues, organs, organisms) using modern microscopic methods;
- construction of artificial molecular genetic systems using genetic engineering techniques.
In systems biology, bioinformatics methods play by far the most important role. With them, the researcher can:
- accumulate and integrate experimental information in databases;
- bring this information to computer analysis;
- perform mathematical modeling of the structural and functional organization of living systems;
- predict new properties of living systems;
- design new rounds of experimental research.
Systems biology follows in the steps of physics where no experiment or its interpretation is possible until profound theoretical and computer-aided analyses of the systems and processes being studied are made.
Consequently, BGRS'2010 had special focus on research efforts that are based on integration of experimental and computer-based/theoretical approaches.
The following are the particular studies, in which bioinformatics and systems biology meet and which had a special interest to the Conference:
- genomics;
- chromosomics;
- transcriptomics;
- proteomics;
- metabolomics;
- reconstruction and modeling of gene networks;
- cell biology;
- physiological genetics;
- developmental biology;
- evolutionary biology;
- synthetic biology;
- medical biology and pharmacology;
- biotechnology.
The results of the most recent research in these fields were presented. The Conference program included plenary reports, session reports, round tables and young scientist school.
