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The fields of statistics, genetics, and agriculture share a long
history of mutual benefit that has recently been reaffirmed through
advances in molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics. This
resurgence has forged cooperative connections among mathematics,
statistics, computer science, and biology that are fueled by technological
advances -- in short, to a new interdisciplinary approach to biology.
Additionally, these rapid advances have radically changed the amount
and type of information available for the characterization of genes.
In many genomic applications, existing methodologies coupled with
powerful computing have successfully directed the exploration of
highly dimensional and rich data collections.
What remains to be accomplished is the successful statistical modeling
of biological phenomena for the purpose of supporting hypothesis-driven
biology. This will ultimately tap into the predictive wealth that
much of the current and impending genomic data has the potential
to offer. Statistical development will continue to significantly
amplify and focus the molecular advances of the last 20 years toward
general improvements in agriculture and human health.
The formation of a new center in statistical bioinformatics is expected to provide additinal momentum to these endeavors.
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