General Unit Information

With advancements in high-throughput data generation technologies, we are now able to generate incredible volumes of data from genome-scale experiments. Biologists need to work with this large volume of data in various digital forms to extract biological knowledge from it.

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that deals with processing, analysis, and management of biological information using computer science and information technologies.

This unit will assist you to develop essential bioinformatics skills and focuses on the practical use of bioinformatics methods and resources for the analysis of nucleotide and protein sequences, as well as results from omics studies, with emphasis on their evolutionary underpinnings and statistical foundations. You will explore the basic concepts underlying bioinformatics algorithms for assembly, alignment and pattern finding. You will gain experience in working with data from –omics studies, and learn data type-specific methods to perform gene/protein expression analysis, clustering, network analysis, and data visualisation.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should able to:

1. Evaluate current techniques to generate genomic data and apply standard workflows to analyse them;
2. Investigate gene set enrichment, network analysis and data visualisation protocols;
3. Evaluate quality and diagnose issues with raw sequencing data and assembled genomes;
4. Perform basic computer programming with case studies involving DNA pattern finding;
5. Identify both small and large-scale genomic variants;
6. Demonstrate team work, scientific communication and peer to peer learning and feedback.

Specific Unit Information