New computational techniques are being developed to identify these distinct protein domains and to understand how they are combined to produce a large repertoire of unique proteins. Bioinformatics is not limited to understanding DNA and amino acid sequence databases. New computational methods will likely transform taxonomic and phylogenic studies as well as our ability to understand and predict the results of complex signal transduction cascades and the kinetics of intricate metabolic pathways. In short, the new discipline of bioinformatics appears destined to transform all areas of biological research. Those with undergraduate degrees in the biological sciences tend to concentrate on graduate courses in the quantitative and computer science fields, while students with computer science and math backgrounds concentrate on courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Internships provide industrial experience.
The BU program also includes internships, which allow students to gain industrial experience as part of their graduate training. Some 35 to 45 companies participate in a senior project day. Other universities with graduate programs in bioinformatics include the University of Michigan , the University of California at Los Angeles , the University of California at San Diego , North Carolina State University , the University of Toronto , and George Mason University . In addition, many biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology graduate programs now include bioinformatics courses and research opportunities. It's likely that in the near future many more universities will develop specific programs in bioinformatics.