Catalyzing Inquiry at the Interface of Computing and Biology

Advances in computer science and technology and in biology over the last several yearshave opened up the possibility for computing to help answer fundamental questions inbiology and for biology to help with new approaches to computing. Making the most ofthe research opportunities at the interface of computing and biology requires the activeparticipation of people from both fields. While past attempts have been made in thisdirection, circumstances today appear to be much more favorable for progress. To helptake advantage of these opportunities, this study was requested of the NRC by theNational Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes ofHealth, and the Department of Energy. The report provides the basis for establishingcross-disciplinary collaboration between biology and computing including an analysis ofpotential impediments and strategies for overcoming them. The report also presents awealth of examples that should encourage students in the biological sciences to look for ways to enable them to be more effective users of computing in their studies.Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Introduction2 21st Century Biology3 On the Nature of Biological Data4 Computational Tools5 Computational Modeling and Simulation as Enablers for Biological Discovery6 A Computational and Engineering View of Biology7 Cyberinfrastructure and Data Acquisition8 Biological Inspiration for Computing9 Illustrative Problem Domains at the Interface of Computing and Biology10 Culture and Research Infrastructure11 Conclusions and RecommendationsA The Secrets of Life: A Mathematician’s Introduction to Molecular BiologyB Challenge Problems in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from Other ReportsC Biographies of Committee Members and StaffD Workshop ParticipantsWhat Is CSTB?