Bioinformatics in otolaryngology research. Part one: concepts in DNA sequencing and gene expression analysis

Abstract

Background: Advances in high-throughput molecular biology, genomics and epigenetics, coupled with exponential increases in computing power and data storage, have led to a new era in biological research and information. Bioinformatics, the discipline devoted to storing, analysing and interpreting large volumes of biological data, has become a crucial component of modern biomedical research. Research in otolaryngology has evolved along with these advances.Objectives: This review highlights several modern high-throughput research methods, and focuses on the bioinformatics principles necessary to carry out such studies. Several examples from recent literature pertinent to otolaryngology are provided. The review is divided into two parts; this first part discusses the bioinformatics approaches applied in nucleotide sequencing and gene expression analysis.Conclusion: This paper demonstrates how high-throughput nucleotide sequencing and transcriptomics are changing biology and medicine, and describes how these changes are affecting otorhinolaryngology. Sound bioinformatics approaches are required to obtain useful information from the vast new sources of data.

Introducing bioinformatics

“…In a very recent issue, our editorial highlighted the potential for genetic research on diseases of the head and neck 1 . In the current issue, this theme is extended, with an important commissioned review article from Ow and colleagues, in which they detail concepts in DNA sequencing and gene expression analysis 2 . The review is published in two parts and the second part will appear in the November issue of The Journal of Laryngology & Otology .…”