Address: Bioinformatics Centre, Indian Institute of Spices Research, P.B. No. 1701, Marikunnu Post, Kozhikode - 673 012, Kerala, India.

Bioinformatics, the latest and hottest branch of biological science, is the science of using information technology to understand biology. In a littoral sense Bioinformatics is the integration of life sciences and information science. It is the science of creating and managing biological databases to keep track of and eventually simulate, the complexity of living organisms. Thus, biology, computer science and information technology merge into a single discipline in Bioinformatics. The ultimate goal of the field is to enable the discovery of new biological insights as well as to create a global perspective from which unifying principles in biology can be discerned.


Common activities in bioinformatics include mapping and analyzing DNA and protein sequences, aligning different DNA and protein sequences to compare them and creating and viewing 3-D models of protein structures.


Mission :

The area of specialization of the centre is Spice Biotechnology & Bioinformatics. The objectives of the centre are,

To establish good linkages among scientists within the institute and with those working outside the organization through networking and by providing broad bandwidth Internet accessibility.
To build up information resources, prepare databases pertaining to spices and to develop relevant information handling tools and techniques.
To continuously assess information requirements, organize creation of necessary infrastructure and to provide information and computer support services to the scientists.
To evolve and implement programmes on education of users and training of scientists responsible for handling of biological information.