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When discussing solutions in the field of Bioinformatics, should they be called "bioinformatic solutions" or "bioinformatics solutions"? My logic (as a non-native speaker) kind of prefers the first one, while the latter seems to be used more widely, for example in a somewhat similar case of "software" instead of "solutions": List of open-source bioinformatics software.

Or can both be correct, "bioinformatics" as a noun, and "bioinformatic" as an adjective?

Of course this could probably be circumvented by rephrasing, but here I'm really after this specific usage.

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    Bioinformatics solutions are solutions that are used in the field of bioinformatics. Bioinformatic solutions are solutions whose texture, structure, or consistency is bioinformatic. Whatever that even means. Is the texture of your solution bioinformatic?
    – RegDwigнt
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 11:57
  • This question is similar to a recent one on physics although it appears that bioinformatic makes more sense than physic. Agree with @RegDwight.
    – Richard Kayser
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 13:08
  • This is one of the few cases where we might consider inserting a hyphen, bio-informatics (otherwise, there is the weird sequence ioi)---standard practice seems to avoid the hyphen
    – David Handelman
    Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 14:32

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According to Merriam-Webster:

bioinformatics: the collection, classification, storage, and analysis of biochemical and biological information using computers especially as applied to molecular genetics and genomics

More to the point, M-W provides bioinformatic as the adjectival form of bioinformatics, so it appears that "bioinformatic solutions" is an acceptable phrase.

That said, I'm not sure I would use "bioinformatic solutions" unless I was trying to contrast "bioinformatic solutions" with "non-bioinformatic solutions". Even then, I would probably use "bioinformatics solutions" or "bioinformatics-based solutions", as it's not obvious what is to be gained by using "bioinformatic solutions", but that appears to be purely a matter of taste.

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