Concerning Bioinformatics and Pearl (PERL)

In summary, the conversation discussed the programming languages Pearl and R in relation to bioinformatics. The speaker expressed an interest in learning Pearl but wondered if there were better or more popular options. Another speaker mentioned that they had no experience with bioinformatics but had heard of R being commonly used. They also mentioned that reusing code may be easier with R due to its widespread use in the field.
  • #1
moriheru
273
17
greetings,
I heard of Pearl and intend on learning it, yet I do have a question:
are there any better programming languages than pearl or more used and popular?
 
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  • #2
I always hear about R when I hear about bioinformatics, but I have no experience with it, I'm more of a MATLAB guy (braces for python assault).
 
  • #3
There is such a language as "Pearl", but I would bet that you mean "PERL".
I have not programmed in biometrics, so my advice is limited. Here is an short article by someone who has:http://www.molecularecologist.com/2012/11/a-comparison-of-bioinformatics-programming-languages/

The one thing that is not mentioned in that article is reusing code. If "R" is a language that is commonly used for informatics applications, then it might make sense to go with that one first - since you may very well be able to borrow "R" algorithms from public sources.
 

1. What is bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data, particularly DNA and protein sequences. It involves the use of various computational tools and techniques to understand biological processes and systems.

2. What is Perl in the context of bioinformatics?

Perl (Practical Extraction and Reporting Language) is a high-level programming language that is commonly used in bioinformatics. It is known for its powerful text manipulation capabilities, making it well-suited for processing and analyzing large amounts of biological data.

3. How is Perl used in bioinformatics?

Perl is used in bioinformatics for a wide range of tasks, such as parsing and extracting data from biological databases, performing sequence alignments, and creating custom scripts for data analysis. It is also used in conjunction with other programming languages and tools to build complex bioinformatics pipelines.

4. What are the advantages of using Perl in bioinformatics?

Perl is popular in bioinformatics due to its flexibility, speed, and ease of use. It has a large library of modules and libraries specifically designed for bioinformatics, making it a powerful tool for data analysis. Its text manipulation capabilities also make it well-suited for handling the large and complex datasets commonly encountered in bioinformatics.

5. Can Perl be used for other applications besides bioinformatics?

Yes, Perl is a general-purpose programming language and can be used for a variety of applications, including web development, system administration, and data analysis. However, it is particularly well-suited for bioinformatics due to its text processing capabilities and extensive library of bioinformatics-specific modules.

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