STRUCTURE
The National Bioinformatics Network in the form of a Distributed
Network is functional from 1986-87. Today the network is
covering 148 institutions, spread geographically all over
the country. The Network is creating human resource in Bioinformatics
and carrying out research in different areas of Bioinformatics
and computational Biology. The BTISNet was also the first
network which established BioGrid India of large bandwidth
and high speed network connectivity among various institutions
in the country and also setting of high performance national
computing facility.
Bioinformatics Centres
The Bioinformatics Centres consist of network information
units functioning in R&D institutions and Universities
situated in different regions of the country and engaged
in specified areas of biotechnology. The centres have been
established at R&D institutions and University departments
exclusively devoted to disciplines covered by biotechnology
having a strong group in each specific discipline. They
have been established on modern lines with computer facilities
to provide bibliographic, SDI and current awareness services,
in addition to providing several research tools such as
Nucleic acid and Protein sequence databases, computational
facilities, etc.
EMBnet India Node
The European Molecular Biology Network (EMBnet), is a science-based
group of 37 collaborating nodes throughout Europe and a
number of nodes outside Europe. EMBnet has evolved into
a world – wide organization bringing bioinformatics
professionals to work together to serve the expanding fields
of genetics molecular biology. The combined expertise of
all nodes allows EMBnet to provide bioinformatics services
to the research community and this encompasses more than
what a single node can provide. Bioinformatics at CDFD is
recognized as the national node of the EMBnet.
The EMBnet India Node provides bioinformatics services
in the form of browsing bio-molecular sequence databanks,
macro molecular structure databanks, genome and other useful
databases. It provides in-house services for the comparison
and analysis of sequence/structure/genome data protein 3-D
modelling molecular graphics. The Node also conducts in-house
training for the use of commercial software such as, GCG
and Insight II. The research interests focus on protein
sequence & structure analysis, protein modelling, drug
design, genome analysis and databases.
BTISnet
This is the first major S&T network in Biotechnology
in the country, networking 148 Bioinformatics Centres through
satellite and terrestrial links provided by NICNET. Internet
access is provided by three major network services providers
in the country viz.,NICNET, ERNET and VSNL . The BTISnet
permits remote login, file transfer, e-mail, etc. as well
as connecting to various international networks which are
providing upto date information support on all aspects in
biotechnology ranging from bibliographic information to
sequence analysis and management information.
The network approach had been very useful in the successful
implementation of the project as it is enabled to establish
a link between diverse groups of scientists working in various
interdisciplinary areas of Biotechnology. The network encouraged
sharing of knowledge and greater interaction amongst the
scientific community irrespective of their respective geographical
location in the country.
Facilities on Interactive Graphics and Molecular Modeling
Six biocomputing facilities under the umbrella of 'National
Facilities on Interactive Graphics and Molecular Modeling'
have been established with the task of providing discipline
wise facilities to the scientists working in the area of
molecular structure modeling, 3D structures, active site
modeling, crystal structures, conformational analysis, protein
and DNA structures and interactions, homology studies and
like. These biocomputing centres are located at :
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
University of Poona, Pune
Bose Institute, Calcutta
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
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