Abstract :
In recent years there has been an explosion of biological
data stored in large central databases, tools to handle the
data, and educational programs to train scientists in
using bioinformatics resources. Still, the diffusion of
bioinformatics within the biological community has yet to
be extensively studied. In this study, the diffusion of two
bioinformatics-related practices—using genomic databases
and analyzing DNAand protein sequences—was
investigated by analyzing MEDLINE records of 12 journals,
representing various fields of biology. The diffusion
of these practices between 1970 and 2003 follows an
S-shaped curve typical of many innovations, beginning
with slow growth, followed by a period of rapid linear
growth, and finally reaching saturation. Similar diffusion
patterns were found for both the use of genomic databases
and biological sequence analysis, indicating the
strong relationship between these practices. This study
presents the surge in the use of genomic databases and
analysis of biological sequences and proposes that these
practices are fully diffused within the biological community.
Extrapolating from these results, it suggests that
taking a diffusion of innovations approach may be useful
for researchers as well as for providers of bioinformatics
applications and support services.
