Discuss the application of soft computing techniques in bioinformatics, specifically in areas like gene expression analysis and protein structure prediction.

In bioinformatics, soft computing techniques are used for tasks such as gene expression analysis and protein structure prediction. For example, neural networks can classify gene expression data to identify disease markers, while genetic algorithms can optimize protein folding simulations to predict structures. Fuzzy logic helps manage uncertainty in biological data, and hybrid approaches enhance predictive accuracy and robustness, facilitating discoveries in genomics and proteomics.