What can bioinformatics do for Natural History museums?

Abstract

We propose the founding of a Natural History bioinformatics framework, which would solve one of the main problems in Natural History: data which is scattered around in many incompatible systems (not only computer systems, but also paper ones). This framework consists of computer resources (hardware and software), methodologies that ease the circulation of data, and staff expert in dealing with computers, who will develop software solutions to the problems encountered by naturalists.This system is organized in three layers: acquisition, data and analysis. Each layer is described, and an account of the elements that constitute it given. Key words: Taxonomy, Systematic, Bioinformatics. RESUMEN ¿Cómo puede ayudar la bioinformática a los Museos de Historia Natural?Se presentan las bases de una estructura bioinformática para Historia Natural, que trata de resolver uno de los principales problemas en ésta: la presencia de datos distribuidos a lo largo de muchos sistemas incompatibles entre sí (y no sólo hablamos de sistemas informáticos, sino también en papel). Esta estructura se sustenta en recursos informáticos (en sus dos vertientes: hardware y software), en metodologías que permitan la fácil circulación de los datos, y personal experto en el uso de ordenadores que se encargue de desarrollar soluciones software a los problemas que plantean los naturalistas. Este sistema estaría organizado en tres capas: de adquisición, de datos y de análisis. Cada una de estas capas se describe, indicando los elementos que la componen.

Rise of the Cybercrabs: how digital cloning in an integrated taxonomic framework can support deep-sea exploration

“…The concept of using 3D imaging to set up frameworks for creating interactive digital collections and libraries is not recent (e.g., Becerra, 2003) The genus Segonzacia (Guinot, 1989) is currently regarded as monotypic, with S. mesatlantica (Williams, 1988), a vent endemic crab encountered on numerous fields along the Northern Mid-Atlantic ridge (MAR), South of the Azores, i.e., from N to S, Menez Gwen (850 m), Lucky…”

“…The concept of using 3D imaging to set up frameworks for creating interactive digital collections and libraries is not recent (e.g., Becerra, 2003). Some of the key elements in the development of this framework included imaging of fine morphological details, accurate 3D model quantification of physical, 3D anatomical reconstructions of soft and hard tissues, complementation of imaging techniques and the creation of online databases with worldwide access (Klaus et al ., 2003; Raz Bahat et al ., 2009; Berquist et al ., 2012).…”