蘭加拉學院

Collecting large amounts of biological data is becoming easier and more affordable and as a result biology has become a data science. Examples of biological data include genetic sequences, genomes, epigenomes, proteomes, metabolomes and microbiomes. These large data sets require specialized and powerful computational and statistical tools for analysis. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that applies computational and statistical methods to biological information in order to make new discoveries and to solve complex biological problems.

The discovery of thousands of disease-causing genes since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 exemplifies the power of early bioinformatics methods. Bioinformatics tools are now routinely used to study the underlying cause of disease and to find more effective treatments as well as to study biological patterns and develop biological and chemical models.

Career Opportunities

Bioinformatics specialists are in high demand in both academia and industry. Moreover, salaries are higher in bioinformatics than other fields in science. The responsibilities of a bioinformatician include data analysis, software development, project support, and computational infrastructure support. If you complete a BSc. in Bioinformatics at Langara, this degree will allow you to pursue a career as a Bioinformatician, Biostatistician or Data Scientist to name a few.

Bioinformatics is a powerful multidisciplinary science that applies computational and statistical tools to curate and analyze expansive amounts of biological data. The utility of bioinformatics is being realized in an ever-increasing number of fields including molecular biology, personalized and preventative medicine, biotechnology, food technology, agriculture, and environmental science, and many others.

Recent advances in high throughput sequencing technology has enabled the inexpensive generation of vast amounts of biological data, some of which has been made openly available in online data repositories. Using this data, along with existing and novel computational tools, students in the Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics will learn to formulate questions and cultivate ideas, mine databases, and create visualizations that lead to innovation. This program is designed to emphasize real-world relevance and applied learning through the incorporation or computer lab-based courses and experiential learning opportunities, such as a mandatory eight-month co-op term.

The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics will produce a highly desirable and skilled graduate trained to contribute to the knowledge economy and succeed in this rapidly growing and dynamic field.