Bioinformatics: WWW Resources

Genome research relies heavily on the World Wide Web (WWW or the Web). The genome research community was indeed an early adopter of the Web and computer technology. There are two good reasons for this. Firstly, there are immense amounts of genetic sequence and data generated rapidly and continuously from many areas of the world. Secondly, researchers have a need for early access to this ever changing database. Distributed computing offered by the Internet provides an ideal platform for the retrieval, exchange, and computing of this voluminous, heterogeneous, and constantly evolving genetic information. Many newcomers to bioinformatics are baffled when they encounter the unfamiliar terminology and methods of computer sciences and the Web. This is particularly true for physicians or pharmacologists without a background in computer science. This chapter provides an overview of the Web resources on bioinformatics and explains commonly encountered concepts and terminology in computer and information technology.