Brief History of the Centre:-
The Bioinformatics centre at the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (earlier CPMB) is one among the Sub-Distributed Information Centre (DISC) of the BTIS network which was established in scientific institutions all over India to foster research, education and training in Bioinformatics. During the early years of inception (started in the year 1989), DISC was primarily involved in supporting the researchers of biotechnology and related disciplines in statistical analysis, bibliographic services, browsing facility and providing email and internet facility. Besides, training of students and teachers on bioinformatics titles is carried out every year. With the growing emphasize on Bioinformatics education worldwide and in India, a MSc (Bioinformatics) program was started in 2004 to cater to needs of the students from agriculture and allied subjects. Subsequently an undergraduate program, B. Tech (Bioinformatics) was started in the year 2006. The bioinformatics activities at TNAU were so long been a part of the Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics, presently with the reconstitution of the departments under CPMB&B, henceforth it falls under the Department of Plant Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics.

Approved Objectives of the Centre:-
1. Development of crop genome database and FTP server at TNAU and monthly updates of FTP server for newly sequenced and existing crop genomes.
2. Design and develop a Resource Description Framework (RDF) Search Engine to provide a common user interface to interconnect heterogeneous sources of crop genomic data.
3. To establish an automated workflow for key functions using next-generation sequencing data.
4. To ascertain novel alleles associated with yield components, stress tolerance, grain quality, and nutrient use efficiency through genomics-assisted allele mining in crop plants (examples: rice and minor millets)
5. Offering regular training/short courses, workshops, and symposiums through capacity building in bioinformatics, in addition to the starting of a new master program, M.Sc (Ag.) in Bioinformatics, from the Academic year 2020-2021 onwards.

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• Full Name:   Dr. M. Jayakanthan
• Tel:  
• Email:   jayakanthan.m@tnau.ac.in
• Location:   Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics CPMB&B, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore – 641 003
• Website:   http://bioinfo.tnau.ac.in/