Bioinformatician'S Guide To Concepts In Biology

Question

[Arun]

Hello, I have been a hardcore bioinformatician, dedicating little towards "Biology" during my courses or Masters. However, I decided to be more balanced, started my Phd, and am loving it. I am so much interested in the actual biology rather than working most of the time with data analysis without REALLY knowing what its all about. I mean, the complete picture. Not that, I don't love data analysis, neither do I bear anything against those who are hardcore data analysts.

But now that my interests are shifted, I would like to understand more of it. I am looking for a book that complements equally the biology with the bioinformatics. For example, if you take QTLs or GWAS, I would like to know the "Biology" behind it, and then how the bioinformatic techniques have evolved to help infer from them. I don't mind if I am exposed entirely to the biological concepts first and then the bioinformatics behind it or as another book. I just would like to understand the complete picture. Any suggestions?

Thank you very much! Arun.

[Chris Evelo]

I think the answers from this BioStar question could be a good start.

[Arun]

Awesome! I'll get started right away.

Answer 1

[Julien]

Take a look at Introduction to Quantitative Genetics by Falconer & Mackay (http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Quantitative-Genetics-Douglas-Falconer/dp/0582243025/), probably available at your university library.

Answer 2

[David Quigley]

You cannot go wrong with a copy of Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts et al). This is the standard undergraduate text in molecular biology and it's really good. The previous edition is available for free in broken up into pieces at the NCBI, but it's much nicer to own the full massive textbook. As a bioinformatics professor once told me, "there should be one in every home."

[Vince Buffalo]

Absolutely! It's astounding how accessible this text is. And it's so well-written that it can function as more than a reference.

Answer 3

[Swbarnes2]

I think the biology is going to depend on the project. Someone can use GWAS or QTLs to study...drug metabolism or Parkison's, or eye color, if they really wanted to. Maybe you should talk to the wet bench biologist you are working with, and have them explain some of the biology behind their field, and how those kinds of studies contribute to that. Or try to read the papers of one of your wet-bench collaborators.