bioinformatics

American  

[bahy-oh-in-fer-mat-iks] / ˌbaɪ oʊˌɪn fərˈmæt ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the retrieval and analysis of biochemical and biological data using mathematics and computer science, as in the study of genomes.

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bioinformatics British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˌɪnfəˈmætɪks /

noun

1. the branch of information science concerned with large databases of biochemical or pharmaceutical information

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bioinformatics Scientific  

/ bī′ō-ĭn′fər-măt′ĭks /

1. Information technology as applied to the life sciences, especially the technology used for the collection and analysis of genomic data.

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Etymology

Origin of bioinformatics

First recorded in 1975–80; bio- ( def. ) + informatics ( def. )

Example Sentences

The researchers also used specialized bioinformatics software from the Feist Lab to pinpoint genetic changes that increased the microbes' productivity.

From Science Daily • Nov. 3, 2025

Karlseder and colleagues collaborated closely with experts at Oxford Nanopore Technologies to combine aspects of their long-read sequencing technique with novel biochemistry and bioinformatics approaches.

From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2024

Current bioinformatics tools can’t scan this much data all at once, especially for sequences that haven’t yet been assembled into genomes.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 5, 2024

Lida Wang, a doctoral student in the biostatistics program, and Chachrit Khunsriraksakul, who earned a doctorate in bioinformatics and geonomics in 2022 and his medical degree in May from Penn State, co-led the study.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2024

Genes encoding umbrella toxins were originally uncovered through a bioinformatics search for new bacterial toxins.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2024