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BioLingua - An Integrated System for the Discovery how Genes Regulate Cell Behavior
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| In order to improve productivity in astrobiology we propose to develop an intuitive, easy to use programming environment that enables scientists to combine their data, knowledge, computational tools and previous, relevant results to make new biological discoveries. We call this environment �BioLingua/CD� (BioLingua for Collaborative Discovery). BioLingua/CD will have a number of fundamental features. It will contain an efficient, easy to use, general purpose programming language augmented with a rich set of biology-specific functionalities, and transparent access to a wide range of basic bioinformatics algorithms, advanced statistical tools and databases. They include genomic, proteomic, metabolic and gene expression data, as well as relevant higher-level knowledge, such as the Gene Ontology, and representations of metabolic and regulatory pathways. All these capabilities, which enable scientists to access and interpret relevant data and knowledge, will be available through a common framework. At the center of BioLingua will be state-of-the art tools for discovering causal relations in gene regulation and metabolic networks and modeling relations between gene expression and metabolism, subject to constraints obtained from previously acquired data and knowledge. The environment will be highly interactive, web-based and equipped with a flexible and efficient visual programming language. The environment will provide tools for collaboration among biologists and a means for sharing results with the community. Using these capabilities the biologist will be able to manipulate and analyze data and knowledge for biological problems with convenience that would be otherwise impossible to achieve.
At the end of this project, we will deliver a powerful, easy to use system that will be an essential tool for astrobiologists engaged in genomic, cellular biology and systems biology research. This system will provide technology for increasing productivity in all science programs sponsored by the Science Mission Directorate that involve studies of extant or extinct organisms. In particular, it will support missions and research devoted to understanding the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life by determining the molecular, genetic, and biochemical mechanisms that control and limit evolution, metabolic diversity, and the ability of life to survive in space, as defined in Goals 4, 5 and 6 of Astrobiology Roadmap.
BioLingua technology has the potential to increase productivity in SMD programs beyond biological domain though its advanced knowledge discovery and data synthesis capabilities, and by fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that span the space science and computer science disciplines. |
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