Dr. Mark Clement and Dr. Quinn Snell
The Computational Sciences Laboratory, directed by Dr. Mark Clement and Dr. Quinn Snell, combines computer science with biological sciences, opening up new possibilities in the fields of health, science, medicine, and biology. The lab focuses mainly on two provocative new areas: analysis and DNA drug docking. Open source phylogenetic analysis tackles the huge task of illustrating the evolutionary relationship between all organisms, both living and dead, over the 3.5 billion years that the earth has been in existence. This, of course, is no insignificant undertaking and carries with it extraordinary consequences. The National Science Foundation's Tree of Life project reports that phylogenetic analysis has implications on human health, natural resource management, agriculture, developmental biology, and disease prediction, diagnosis, and prevention.
In Australia, phylogenetic analysis was used to confirm that the death adder was closely related to the lesser-known bardick, prompting scientists to explore the use of death adder antivenin to treat potentially fatal bites from its highly venomous cousin. In more recent years, phylogenetic research was used to identify and control the emerging West Nile Virus. This knowledge was critical in preventing widespread infection and may have saved hundreds from illness and even death. However, with over 1.75 million documented species and an estimated 10 million more awaiting discovery, any such project involving phylogenetics is impossible without the aid of sophisticated and powerful technology. Research in the Computational Sciences Laboratory is aimed at creating and improving open source software using alignment algorithms to enhance phylogenetic research, with the potential of dramatically altering the field.
The advances that the Computational Sciences Laboratory is making in the field of DNA drug docking have far-reaching consequences as well. Modern science has determined the causes of many defects and diseases, yet we are still unable to cure a significant number. Drug docking technology, however, in effect allows scientists to turn certain disease- and defect-causing genes on or off. This technology, combined with the mapping of the complete Human Genome, creates the possibility for pharmaceutical companies to begin targeting specific genes with drug therapy, perhaps curing diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and AIDS, as well as reversing birth defects such as Downs Syndrome. The algorithms and applications created in the Computational Sciences Laboratory help scientists determine which drugs will dock, or bind, to the harmful proteins produced by a given gene.
The depth of research possibilities stemming form the Computational Sciences Laboratory has also prompted the Computer Science Department to offer undergraduate students a new option in their studies with the recently created Bioinformatics Emphasis in Computer Science. Bioinformatics students graduate with backgrounds in biology coupled with the software development and analytical skills necessary to implement large bioinformatics applications.