Bioinformatics in integration to computational biology is a novel field which applies computer to biology, with which biologists are able to make detailed use of biological data for its advancement. In bioinformatics, the computers are used for the storage followed by the processing and analyzing, along with retrieval of large amounts of biologic and genomic data. In recent years, the field of Bioinformatics is gaining more interest. Earlier, the methodology adopted by the researchers to generate, collect followed by the analysis of various types of scientific data, which is the most time consuming and quite expensive for the work to be carried out. On the other hand with the help of computational tools & techniques, software & databases, one can process a large amount of biological data in a short span such as computer-aided drug designing (CADD). Environment and its protection in today’s word are the most challenging. The problems associated with its protection, planning can be resolved by the best bases of Information technology.

1. Sambodhi ISSN: 2249-6661
(UGC Care Journal) Vol-4, No.-1, (A) January-March (2021)
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BIOINFORMATICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
AND HEALTH AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN OTHER DISCIPLINES.
Varruchi Sharma
Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, Chandigarh,
India.
Dr. Varruchi Sharma
Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College,
Sector 26, Chandigarh, India
Abstract
Bioinformatics in integration to computational biology is a novel field which applies computer to biology, with which biologists
are able to make detailed use of biological data for its advancement. In bioinformatics, the computers are used for the storage
followed by the processing and analyzing, along with retrieval of large amounts of biologic and genomic data. In recent years, the
field of Bioinformatics is gaining more interest. Earlier, the methodology adopted by the researchers to generate, collect followed
by the analysis of various types of scientific data, which is the most time consuming and quite expensive for the work to be carried
out. On the other hand with the help of computational tools & techniques, software & databases, one can process a large amount
of biological data in a short span such as computer-aided drug designing (CADD). Environment and its protection in today’s
word are the most challenging. The problems associated with its protection, planning can be resolved by the best bases of
Information technology.
Keywords: Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, Health, computational tools, Information technology
Introduction:
In today’s scenario the environment and Global expansion in reference to human health have become quite hazardous. The
population worldwide is the major issue that is continually keep on adding problems to the environment and human health. The
conservation and protection of environment is becoming more challenging day by day. The challenge is to discourse the problems
associated and to overcome the same. The main call to combat is to invocate frugality, population, political aspects and research
and technology.[1] Bioinformatics is the field of science that with the help of computational tools can administer biological,
genomic data. In this field the data is stored in the databases build, stored data is analyzed and further retrieved. The implication
of bioinformatics to human health, agriculture[2] and to the environment is to uphold drug discovery or designing for human
welfare and in application to environment and biological maintenance which focuses on the data storage at blood or tissue level,
associated biodiversity evidence, genetic information or makeup of specific wildlife populations and maintenance/preservation of
genetics.[3, 4] Figure1. Bioinformatics also provides an explorative view over bioremediation for environment conservation, also
in reference to the bioremediation aspect it provides variable possibilities with correspondence to proteomic and genomic data. [4]
Figure 1: Applications of Bioinformatics

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Environmental Science and Informatics
The implementation of information technology at environmental level to environmental science, which demonstrates the
information dispensation and its conversation to environmental science.[5] Such communication targets at the data which
corresponds to the reliable informations followed by amalgamation to knowledge which may conclude the data at application
level. Data related to human health in respect to environment is collected or stored at various levels in the databases.[6] The data
samples may include water, air, noise, waste, chemical data, soil samples etc. The data depending upon its nature such as if data is
multidimensional, that can be represented through geometric objects.[7] The same data is assessed and information for all kind is
processed through either data models, data bases, visualization systems, image analysis systems etc. The processing of data along
with various techniques also processed among different levels such as at public administration level, industrial level etc. Improved
measures from environmental understanding are taken into account and in a reusable manner the data is further ready for use at
environmental level for humans as well [8] Figure 2. Environmental models are designed in order to address environmental issues
in environmental systems [9]. Bioremediation is a technique for useful waste managing which is used at contaminated areas and
sites to remove waste. There are many possibilities in Bioinformatics for bioremediation from environment protection. The global
properties of bioremediation network can be studied with the help of bioinformatics using proteomic and genomic data
corresponding to biodegradation information. A lot of data is required at cellular and molecular level in life sciences and
environment protection and this data can be extracted from various sources like comparative genomics, molecular Phylogenetics,
system biology, biodatabase and data mining [10]. New microbes have been identified from known microbes related to the
degradation process using phylogenetic analysis. Bioinformatics tools can be used to screen for pollutants by specific enzyme for
their already characterized degradation sensitivity. Bioinformatics provide insight to the identification and characterization of
protein related properties, and the reconstruction of biodegradation metabolic and regulatory pathways [11, 12]. Scientists are
studying the genome of the microbe Chlorobium tepidum which has an unusual capacity for generating energy from light with the
help of bioinformatics. Another Global concern is the Climate change because of loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and
longer and more intense heat waves. Bioinformatics can help on this with the sequencing of microbial genome which can reduce
levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This plays an important role in stabilizing the global climate change [13].
With the help of microbial genome scientists, DNA sequence of C.crescentus is determining as this organism can be helpful in
sewage treatment. Moreover the genome of some of the microbes can be studied which use carbon-dioxide as source of their
carbon.
Bioinformatics implements the algorithm, statistics and computer science to figure out the biological problems. It owns a huge
information regarding the structural and functional characteristics of not only the genes but also of their products; the
proteins, in the form of databases [1,2]. In Pakistan bioinformatics is under progress as Pakistan itself. The impact of
bioinformatics tools is very crucial in disease diagnosis and determining tribal affinities among different ethnic groups in
Pakistan [3,4]. Bioinformatics databases even deal with the allergens to combat the health issues [5].
It has strong impact on drug discovery and trial phase whether it is preclinical or clinical. However, pharmaceutical
companies face difficulties during drug manufacturing which could be resolved with the aid of bioinformatics. This would
eventually help us to deal with genomics, diagnosis and disease treatment in a precise way [6]. Bioinformatics tools need to
be executed within Pakistan as the country is producer of varied crops, vegetables and fruits render the large genetic
diversity which will be valuable in the high throughput research of biological data [14].
Bioinformatics tools applied to environmental sector is helpful in study of bioremediation. Also, EGTDC (Environmental
Genomics Thematic Programme Data Centre) is working to provide easy access to researchers to interpret genomic data
results throughout the world [8]. This article has intended to see everyone’s sights on bioinformatics work in Pakistan
especially in KPK. The bioinformatics tools are being in practice in KPK, Punjab and other provinces of Pakistan for the
analysis and diagnosis of several diseases like albinism and glaucoma, for the implementation of best treatment approaches
Bioinformatics implements the algorithm, statistics and computer science to figure out the biological problems. It owns a huge
information regarding the structural and functional characteristics of not only the genes but also of their products; the
proteins, in the form of databases [1,2]. In Pakistan bioinformatics is under progress as Pakistan itself. The impact of
bioinformatics tools is very crucial in disease diagnosis and determining tribal affinities among different ethnic groups in
Pakistan [3,4]. Bioinformatics databases even deal with the allergens to combat the health issues [5].
It has strong impact on drug discovery and trial phase whether it is preclinical or clinical. However, pharmaceutical
companies face difficulties during drug manufacturing which could be resolved with the aid of bioinformatics. This would
eventually help us to deal with genomics, diagnosis and disease treatment in a precise
way [6]. Bioinformatics tools need to be executed within Pakistan as the country is producer of varied crops, vegetables
and fruits render the large genetic diversity which will be valuable in the high throughput research of biological data [14].
Bioinformatics tools applied to environmental sector is helpful in study of bioremediation. Also, EGTDC (Environmental
Genomics Thematic Programme Data Centre) is working to provide easy access to researchers to interpret genomic data
results throughout the world [8]. This article has intended to see everyone’s sights on bioinformatics work in Pakistan
especially in KPK. The bioinformatics tools are being in practice in KPK, Punjab and other provinces of Pakistan for the
analysis and diagnosis of several diseases like albinism and glaucoma, for the implementation of best treatment approaches

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Copyright ⓒ 2020Authors 90
Figure 2: Interaction of environmental sector with various applications of Information Technology

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S.
No
Type/Subtypes of Environmental System Ref
.
No
[15]
S.
No
Types of
Models
Ref.
No
[16]
S.
No
Modeling
Environmental
System
Sub type Ref. No
[17]
1 Empirical 1 Hydrological Surface water
system
1 Hydrological Surface
Water
2 Conceptual Subsurface
Hydrological
system
Subsurface
Water
3 Process
Based
Coastal system
Coastal 2 Ecological Agricultural
system
2 Ecological Agricultural Wildlife system
Wildlife 3 Climatic Global Scale
3 Climatic Oceanic Regional Scale
Atmosphere
Land
Surface
Table 1: Environmental System, Modeling Environmental System.
Figure 3(a): Information processing system. Figure 3(b): Cross-coordinating fields for human
health
Bioinformatics applications & tools for Human Health:
Biology has promptly developed a data-rich. Experimentations and data derived from research hold the key to the deepest secrets
of biology and medicine,[18] but we cannot fully analyze this data due to the wealth and complexity of the information
available.[19, 20] The primary task of Bioinformatics is to discover knowledge from biological data.[21] Figure 3(b).
Bioinformatics in general can also be defined as data relating to human health. The focus is to provide path to the data extracted
from various techniques. Various applications and tools used for bioinformatics applications are as follows:[22, 23]. Sequence
analysis: Using computational methods in order to understand structure function and features. [24]. Protein structure
prediction: Genome: After the genome the genomic projects have led to a fundamental way in which the science is done.
Genomics has opened the doors to discovery driven or hypothesis driven research.[25] By the detailed research many terms have
been coined for the explanation of biology which helps in deciphering the far additional information such as: Transcriptome,
Proteome, Interactome, Structorsome, Cardiome, Physome.[26] some important tools in bioinformatics are as: CATH, HMMSTR,
MODELLER, PHYRE, PHD etc. [27, 28]. Comparative Genomics: Comparison among the full draft of genomes of different
organisims. Which has led to find out the similarity among organisms.[29]. Functional Genomics: To find out the functional
characteristics of genes. Through gene expression patterns we can find: What does the gene do? When is it needed? What other
genes or proteins interact with it?[30]. Systems biology: connections and performance of the components at molecular, cellular,
organ and organism level.[31]. Drug development process: It’s the progression by which new candidate (chemical compounds)
medications are revealed. It is either of the ways: structure based drug design and ligand based drug design.[32] CADD
(Computer aided drug design) is the advancement of software technology and biological knowledge that leads in the designing of
better and most effective drugs. Popular drug databases are as follows: Potential Drug Target Database, Target Database,
Therapeutic Target Database, Drug Bank, Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Target Database, Tropical Disease Research database etc. [33-
35]
Bioinformatics in Healthcare: Bioinformatics in healthcare is the arrangement of medical data (clinical, preclinical, post clinical
data) over computer. In the same the patient data is provided to the healthcare specialists, so that such data can help in treatment
of the patient moreover such healthcare practices can help patients from far areas as they can get better opinion. [36, 37]
Using bioinformatics, interpreted data after analysis leads to the generation of electronic health records (EHRs) that helps in the
data warehouse creation. The data warehouses have all kind of data which helps also in identification of genotypic or phenotypic
data. In current scenario or in current computational world development of novel algorithms or procedures have been adopted for
the processing of genomic or phenotypic data which helps in either drug designing or discovery.[38-40]. Artificial intelligence

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(AI) is one of advanced technology aimed to replace the partially/fully human intelligence power. The same is another important
advanced technology that emphasis on replacement of human intelligence power either moderately or completely.[41, 42] This
could become possible with the help of bioinformatics and computational biology at molecular levels. The algorithms of AI helps
in sequencing at certain levels. In some studies it has been demonstrated that microarray cancer data has been classified using AI
algorithms.[43-46]
Applications:
The same field bioinformatics has a number of applications that lead in certain changes at various levels for example changes at
genomic level lead to the disease resistant varieties in crops, the same can also help in the reduction in levels of greenhouse gases
by the sequencing of microbial genomes, which a key significant role in stabilizing the climate change globally. In various crops
when the evolutionary changes takes place, the genomes of such plants becomes conserved. By the help of the bioinformatics and
its various tools, it has become possible for the extraction of the desired information from the plant genomes of interest.
In another application by the incorporation of desired genes many plants have been made insect resistant. Bacillus thuringiensis a
bacterial species which has shown promising properties in increasing the soil fertility especially against pests. The same
observation have been noticed while mapping the genome of the same organism. Some of the examples in the same context are as:
cotton, corns and potatoes as well. The mixed combination of bacterial genes in plant genome results in the bacterial entry in its
bloodstream which makes the organism starved, eventually they die, in the same category Bt corn is a type of species of food
plants which have been modified by inserting bacterial genes in it. Bt genes use in the plants genome has led to the little use of
insecticides. Resulting to which there have been gradual increase in the productivity and nutritional value of plants, also the same
have a beneficial impact on human health. By the genomic level changes in the plant genomes there is a varying impact in
nutritional value of plants, such as insertion of some of the genes in rice genome in order to get an increased level of Vitamin A,
also the same is very important component as per human health. Vitamin A deficiency leads to blindness. Such a genetically
modified crop has a positive impact on human health [47].
Conclusion
The main aim of our study is to bridge environmental informatics to Bioinformatics using computational technologies also
association among environment, human health and bioinformatics. In the environmental part we have focused on data collection,
its processing and to take the same to the application part. In reference to human health. Advances in sequencing and
computational biology have drastically increased our capability to explore the taxonomic and functional compositions of
microbial communities that play crucial roles in industrial processes and different environmental processes. Bioinformatics, once
aggregated along with genomics possess the potential to assist in sustaining food security under global climate change by climate-
ready and induced crop yields.
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