HealthJuly 9, 2026

bioinformatics

/ˌbaɪoʊˌɪnfərˈmætɪks/

Definition

The field of science that uses computational methods, algorithms, and software to analyze, manage, and interpret complex biological or clinical data.

Etymology

The word is a portmanteau formed from the Greek 'bios' (life) and 'informatics,' which derives from the French 'informatique' (information science). It emerged in the late 20th century to describe the fusion of biology and data processing.

In the news

Although the term appears in the article's related content link, it refers to the broader technological framework necessary for handling the vast datasets—such as psychiatric assessments and speech patterns—required to build sophisticated AI training tools.

Virtual Patients Will Train Future Mental Health Clinicians

Read the full article ↗

Inside Precision Medicine

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