• Effective prompting is crucial for chatbot performance; techniques like role prompting, few-shot prompting, and chain-of-thought prompting enhance bioinformatics applications.
• Chatbot responses are inherently uncertain; users must test prompts multiple times and cross-check outputs to ensure reliability.
• Chatbots should supplement, not replace, coding education to prevent superficial understanding and loss of troubleshooting skills.
• Responsible use involves balancing AI assistance with traditional instruction to foster critical thinking and self-reliance.