National Library of Medicine

Modern molecular biology seeks to understand the silent yet elegant language of living cells. From a DNA alphabet of just four chemical subunits arises the complex syntax of life processes, with humans as its most intricate expression. The central aim of molecular biology is to decipher and utilize this “alphabet” to create new “words and phrases.” The immense volume of molecular data and its subtle patterns necessitate computerized databases and analysis tools. The challenge lies in developing new approaches to handle this data’s volume and complexity, providing researchers with enhanced access to analysis tools to advance our understanding of genetic heritage and its implications for health and disease.

The late Senator Claude Pepper recognized the importance of computerized information processing in biomedical research and sponsored legislation that established the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) on November 4, 1988, as a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NLM was chosen for its expertise in creating and maintaining biomedical databases and, as part of NIH, could establish a research program in computational molecular biology. The NIH is the world’s largest biomedical research facility.

As a national resource for molecular biology information, NCBI’s mission is to develop new information technologies to aid in understanding fundamental molecular and genetic processes that influence health and disease. Specifically, NCBI is tasked with creating automated systems for storing and analyzing molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics data; facilitating database and software use by the research and medical community; coordinating biotechnology information efforts nationally and internationally; and researching advanced computer-based methods for analyzing the structure and function of biologically important molecules.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Click here to go back to our Library!