239

(continued)

• A common thread in all the great challenges of bioinformatics is establishing a

new level of language. This is true whether it is a matter of understanding the

genetic (protein prediction) and genomic (gene prediction) code and correctly

predicting proteins from foreign genomes or translating the sequence of a protein

into three-dimensional protein structures. Of course, this is even more true when

doing systems biology, i.e., approaching the very essence of biological regulation

more deeply and understanding forward and feedback loops, recognizing stable

system states. This can be used in particular for ecosystem modelling. Especially

with regard to climate (global warming and nuclear winter), but also species con­

servation, biodiversity and population dynamics, such systems biology models

provide important insights.

• Our lives are becoming increasingly digitalised. The dangers of this digitalisation

of our society are in the increasing control of citizens (e.g., NSA in the USA,

“Citizen Score” in China, steering and opinion-making via the Internet and social

forums: “post-factual society”). Active questioning of false information, personal

rights and protection on the Internet, but also transparency, diversity of opinion,

pluralism and democracy, as well as free information filters (browsers) controlled

by the users, are important contributions to protecting and improving digital civil

rights in the Internet age. Bioinformatics reinforces positive aspects of digitalisa­

tion: it helps to model the growth of social networks in biological models, to

better understand the Internet and also to support the “Internet of Things” through

software and databases. Bioinformatics helps drive new, creative and sustainable

technologies (synthetic biology, nanotechnology, 3D printers, artificial tissues,

etc.). Digitization with the help of bioinformatics is a pacesetter of molecular

medicine. In mathematical models of ecosystems, bioinformatics digitization

reveals limits to growth (e.g., Verhulst equation for bacterial growth) and result­

ing sensible system strategies.

16.5

Exercises for Chap. 16

Task 16.1

The Digital Manifesto. Familiarize yourself with the content!

Task 16.2

Global Warming, how does it work?

Task 16.3

What is Doomsday Clock and can you find it on the internet?

16.5  Exercises for Chap. <ExternalRef><RefSource>16</RefSource><RefTarget…