Eugene Myers
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Gene" Wimberly Myers, Jr. is an American computer scientist and bioinformatician, who is best known for his development of the NCBI
's BLAST
tool for sequence analysis. His 1990 paper (with Stephen Altschul
and others) describing BLAST has received over 24000 citations making it among the most highly cited papers ever. He is currently a group leader at the Janelia Farm research campus (JFRC) of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
. Before joining the Janelia Farm, he was a member of the faculty of the University of Arizona
, the Vice President of Informatics Research at Celera Genomics
, and a member of the faculty at UC Berkeley.
His current research interests at JFRC include computational reconstructions of neuroanatomical data, as well as algorithms for analysis of functional neuroscience data.
Gene Myers received a B.S.
in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology
and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Colorado.
Myers was one of the original developers of the BLAST
algorithm, which is very likely the most widely used software tool in the field of bioinformatics
. Along with Udi Manber
, Myers invented the suffix array
data structure
.
Before coming to Berkeley in 2003, Myers worked at Celera Genomics
, where he was involved in the sequencing
of the human genome
, as well as the genome
s of Drosophila
and mouse
. In particular, Myers advocated the use of the whole genome shotgun sequencing technique.
Gene was voted the most influential in bioinformatics in 2001 by Genome Technology Magazine and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
in 2003. In 2004 he won the International Max-Planck Research Prize.
National Center for Biotechnology Information
The National Center for Biotechnology Information is part of the United States National Library of Medicine , a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI is located in Bethesda, Maryland and was founded in 1988 through legislation sponsored by Senator Claude Pepper...
's BLAST
BLAST
In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an algorithm for comparing primary biological sequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of different proteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences...
tool for sequence analysis. His 1990 paper (with Stephen Altschul
Stephen Altschul
For the former MTV news/current CBS news correspondent, see Serena Altschul.Stephen Frank Altschul is an American mathematician who has designed algorithms that are widely used in the field of bioinformatics . Most notably, Altschul is the co-author of the BLAST algorithm used for sequence...
and others) describing BLAST has received over 24000 citations making it among the most highly cited papers ever. He is currently a group leader at the Janelia Farm research campus (JFRC) of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
. Before joining the Janelia Farm, he was a member of the faculty of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, the Vice President of Informatics Research at Celera Genomics
Celera Genomics
Celera Corporation was a business unit of the Applera Corporation, but was spun off in July 2008 to become an independent publicly traded company. In May 2011 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated completed the acquisition of Celera, which thus became a wholly owned subsidiary...
, and a member of the faculty at UC Berkeley.
His current research interests at JFRC include computational reconstructions of neuroanatomical data, as well as algorithms for analysis of functional neuroscience data.
Gene Myers received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Colorado.
Myers was one of the original developers of the BLAST
BLAST
In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an algorithm for comparing primary biological sequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of different proteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences...
algorithm, which is very likely the most widely used software tool in the field of bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
. Along with Udi Manber
Udi Manber
Udi Manber is an Israeli computer scientist. He is one of the authors of agrep and GLIMPSE. As of April 2008, he is employed by Google as one of their vice presidents of engineering.-Biography:...
, Myers invented the suffix array
Suffix array
In computer science, a suffix array is an array of integers giving the starting positions of suffixes of a string in lexicographical order.-Details:Consider the string...
data structure
Data structure
In computer science, a data structure is a particular way of storing and organizing data in a computer so that it can be used efficiently.Different kinds of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications, and some are highly specialized to specific tasks...
.
Before coming to Berkeley in 2003, Myers worked at Celera Genomics
Celera Genomics
Celera Corporation was a business unit of the Applera Corporation, but was spun off in July 2008 to become an independent publicly traded company. In May 2011 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated completed the acquisition of Celera, which thus became a wholly owned subsidiary...
, where he was involved in the sequencing
Sequencing
In genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure of an unbranched biopolymer...
of the human genome
Human genome
The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...
, as well as the genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
s of Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
and mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
. In particular, Myers advocated the use of the whole genome shotgun sequencing technique.
Gene was voted the most influential in bioinformatics in 2001 by Genome Technology Magazine and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
in 2003. In 2004 he won the International Max-Planck Research Prize.
Awards
- International Max Planck Research Prize
- Association for Computing MachineryAssociation for Computing MachineryThe Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
's Paris Kanellakis AwardParis Kanellakis AwardThe Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award is granted yearly by the Association for Computing Machinery to honor specific theoretical accomplishments that have had a significant and demonstrable effect on the practice of computing... - Member of the National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.