What is BLAST in Bioinformatics? Simple Guide for Beginners

If you are stepping into the world of bioinformatics, one of the first tools you will come across is BLAST. But what exactly is BLAST, and why is it used so often in research? Let’s understand it in the simplest way.

What is BLAST in Bioinformatics?
BLAST means Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. It is a computer program that compares your DNA, RNA, or protein sequence with sequences in a large database. This helps to find similarities, match functions, and even discover if your sequence is already known in science.

Think of it like searching for a song online by humming a tune — BLAST does the same but with biological sequences.

Why Do Scientists Use BLAST?

• To identify unknown genes or proteins

• To study the relationship between species

• To detect diseases or pathogens

• To understand how certain genes work

Main Types of BLAST:

• BLASTN – Compares DNA with DNA

• BLASTP – Compares proteins with proteins

• BLASTX – Changes DNA into protein before comparing

• TBLASTN – Compares a protein to translated DNA sequences

• TBLASTX – Translates both DNA sequences before comparison

How Students Can Benefit:
For students learning bioinformatics, BLAST is a must-know skill. It is free to use on the NCBI website and does not require advanced programming knowledge. With just a little practice, you can start exploring genes and proteins from any species.

At Learning Labb Research Institute, we train students to use BLAST and other bioinformatics tools with real-life examples, making learning simple and job-oriented.