Computers Seen Revolutionizing Research Labs

Three computers - an IBM PC and two Sun workstations-sit on the desk of molecular biologist Richard Roberts, assistant director for research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island. Roberts routinely uses all three in the course of a day, moving easily from word processing to a search of DNA and protein databases to a display of sequences, and to running simulation models of DNA methylases, special proteins that stop restriction enzymes from cutting bits of genetic material. "I loo

| 7 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
7:00
Share

"I look at computers from a practical standpoint," he says. "I want to use them as tools."

But for Roberts, three computers are not enough. He longs for access to the connecting software and networks that would make it possible for him to work in a fully functioning electronic environment.

If Roberts wants to check the scientific literature for previous work on a particular chemical structure, for example, he must walk to the library. Although some institutions allow scientists and students limited computer access to their library systems, that's not the case for Roberts. And even when it's possible to conduct off-site searches, often researchers are limited to locating a book or journal rather than obtaining its contents, especially if the information appears in an obscure publication. If the library doesn't carry the journal they want, it could take weeks for them to obtain it through an interlibrary loan.

When: ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • William Allen

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio
Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio