This course will teach the data and algorithms behind the most commonly used bioinformatics tools from a biological perspective. When the course is over, participants should be able to use the data and programs and make informed choices as to the program, the parameters and databases, regardless of the particular site used. Best practices (recommended sites and programs) for various biological contexts will also be taught. In the final project students will take one gene and follow through everything we did in the course on their gene of interest.
Basic topics:
Introduction to Databases
DNA sequencing and assembly
Pairwise comparison
Database similarity searching
Multiple alignment
Motifs, patterns and profiles
Gene Structure
Genome databases and browsers
Additional topics (time permitting):
Comparative genomics
Protein secondary structure
Gene Ontology
Pathway Analysis
Gene knockdown (miRNA, siRNA, and CRISPR)