Research Fields of the Department of Biosciences and Informatics
Understanding the Composition of Living Organisms from the Molecular to the Individual Level
In addition to fundamental biology, students at the Department of Biosciences and Informatics study molecular and cellular biology, genome science, and developmental biology. Meanwhile, research at the department crosses various scales, from the molecular to the organism level. This includes investigating life phenomena, understanding the formation of biological structures, unraveling evolutionary processes, and analyzing the structure of glycans as markers of cellular undifferentiation. Additionally, we utilize technologies that visualize otherwise invisible molecules within living organisms (bioimaging) and manipulate them using light (optogenetics).
Viewing Living Organisms as Systems Reveals New Insights
Living organisms can be understood as highly flexible and sophisticated “systems.” Previously, life phenomena could only be explained qualitatively. However, by observing the temporal and spatial changes in biomolecules and performing simulations using mathematical models, it has become possible to understand life phenomena in quantitative terms. Additionally, we conduct research on brain function measurement and rehabilitation medicine. Related subjects include system control theory, biometrics, systems biology, and biocybernetics.
Unraveling the Body’s Internal Chemical Reactions, Developing Technologies to Detect and Treat Disease
To understand the theory of chemical reactions and mechanisms of enzyme reactions at the molecular level, students study courses such as molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and biopolymer science. We are developing substances that control abnormal cellular functions and therapeutic seeds for intractable diseases, aiming for application in innovative drug development, as well as diagnostic methods and therapeutic agents utilizing glycans and peptides. We are also working on creating new enzymes for bioremediation.
Analyzing the Genome to Tackle the Mysteries of How Living Things Work
To understand and research life sciences, students study synthetic biology, which recreates living organisms’ DNA sequences, amino acid sequences, and metabolism in test tubes, and bioinformatics for analyzing the vast data obtained from these processes. Through information science incorporating machine learning, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, we are tackling large-scale genome analysis, unraveling diseases such as cancer and developing diagnostic methods, genome-based drug discovery, and research on the gut microbiota.