Nowadays, molecular biology has definitely become an interdisciplinary science. Toward the study of the functions and the interactions of the biological molecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, computer science and engineering, along with chemistry and statistics, are routinely engaged. In molecular biology, techniques and methods are constantly developed, and new techniques emerge. Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics have become the cornerstones of molecular biology. The developing technologies have led to a decrease of the cost per molecular unit analyzed, but at the cost of computer integration and intensification. Many research methods require a reference nucleic acid sequence. Considering the necessary integration of sequencing data and methodology, combining the “omics” approaches can help to elucidate more complex null hypotheses. Here, data processing basics, with an emphasis to commonly used techniques, are summarized. The knowledge gaps are discussed as well as further prospective for integrating next-generation sequencing data.
Part of the book: Bioinformatics in the Era of Post Genomics and Big Data