Course content

The course gives a practical and theoretical introduction to important methods in bioinformatics, including sequence library searches, pairwise and multiple alignment, phylogenetic analysis, gene prediction, ontology-based analyses, motif discovery and structure prediction. The students will be able to test the methods on realistic problems through computer-based exercises. The students will also do a method-oriented project highlighting the theory behind some important methods. An individual report from the implementation of a chosen method will be the basis for grading. The course is in particular targeted towards students with a background from computer science who wants an introduction to important methods that are used to analyse data from molecular biology.

The course overlaps with MOL3021, except for the project assignment.

Learning outcome

After completion of the course the student is able to:

• explain the main principles of important algorithms and methods used in bioinformatics tools, including dynamic programming, hidden Markov models and neural networks
• explain function and usage of important bioinformatics tools, in particular for analyses at the sequence level (genome, gene, RNA and protein)
• describe important formats for storage and exchange of biological information
• describe content and use of important bioinformatics databases and web portals
• use bioinformatics tools and databases to analyse relevant data from molecular biology

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises (computer lab). The lectures are given intensively in two weeks in the spring semester, and includes initial work on the project assignment.

The language of instruction is English.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in molecular biology, statistics and informatics.

Course materials

Announced at the start of the course.

Credit reductions