This Introduction to Bioinformatics is motivated by the biology of genomics. Starting from a description of the Drosophila genome project, the authors explain the computational and conceptional background to the analysis of large-scale sequence data. Many of the corresponding analysis methods are rooted in evolutionary thinking, which serves as a common thread throughout the book. The focus is on methods of comparative genomics and subjects such as alignments, gene finding, phylogeny, and the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are treated. Especially the latter topic is closely integrated with ideas from evolutionary biology, including coalescent theory. The volume contains exercises, questions & answers to selected problems, and a CD-ROM with software to visualize some of the central algorithms covered. The book is of interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as to researchers in the fields of bioinformatics, molecular & evolutionary biology, and biomathematics.