Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
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Supercomputer:
A supercomputer is the largest and most powerful
type of computer available, occupying large rooms and even entire
floors of a building. Supercomputers are often employed in fields
such as cryptanalysis (code breaking), molecular modeling, weather
forecasting, and climate mapping. Supercomputers typically are
used in high-tech academic, governmental, and scientific research
facilities. Figure 1.7 shows a supercomputer.
supercomputer
The largest and most powerful
type of computer, surpassing the capability of
a mainframe, typically used in research and
academics.
Figure.1 7
This IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer is located at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois, USA.
Mapping the Human Genome
Supercomputers played a critical role in the Human Genome Project
(HGP), a multi-national research project that sought to define the
unique genetic sequences that comprise the 23 chromosome pairs
of human DNA. The project began in the 1980s, and by April 2003,
99% of the human genome had been mapped with 99.99% accu-
racy. Work continues on genomes today, with thousands of human
genomes completely sequenced and many more mapped at a more
basic level. The power of a supercomputer was essential for process-
ing the enormous amount of data. The data that this project collected
may help researchers develop cures for diseases like cancer, as well
as promote advances in biotechnology and molecular medicine.
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