On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Describe the relationships between underlying biology (structure and function) and error profiles in experimental data.

2. Evaluate, select and use appropriate contemporary bioinformatics technologies for a given biological system/bioinformatic problem.

3. Analyse an experimental biological system in order to develop an approach to a bioinformatic analysis.

4. Evaluate an approach to analysing a biological system bioinformatically given the limitations of the available technology.

5. Communicate research findings to an audience of peers.

Lectures are supported by face-to-face tutorials that build on student’s understanding of structural and functional aspects of biology, and the consequences of these on bioinformatics problems. The preparation and presentation of workshops based on biological problems will help develop students’ capacity to work in small groups, analyse and develop bioinformatics solutions and communicate these to others.

The course covers concepts in three themes: Biological Structure, Biological Processes and Bioinformatic Consequences.

 Biological Structure:

• Molecular and informational (e.g. genic/chromosomal/genetic) structures

• Concept of genome ploidy state

• Genetic linkage

• Population structure

   

  Biological Processes:

• Replication and transcription

• Genetic recombination

• Transposition and translocation by various causes (transposable elements or other)

   

  Consequences:

• Error profiles in experimental data

   

  The lecture stream for this will be:

  4x Molecular and informational structures

  1x Replication/transcription

  3x Mendelian genetics / linkage / polygenic traits

  1x Small damage processes – chemical / replicative / non-ionising radiation

  1x Large damage processes – ionising radiation / transposable elements

  2x Integrative lectures based on case studies

   

  Lectures will have associated tutorials.

   

  Workshops will be held three times in which students will present their research.

Tutorial tasks (total of 20%)

Each tutorial will include an assessment task which may be one of 1) a short answer quiz at the start of the tutorial or 2) a short written piece on the topic of the tutorial directed by provided questions, to be submitted at the beginning of the subsequent tutorial.

Workshop presentations/reports (3x: total of 40 %)

Groups of students will be given a choice of topics in biology relating to bioinformatics to select from. In groups, the students will research approaches to analysing the biological system using bioinformatics techniques. The research will include analysis of the problems associated with the approaches. Individually, students will write a 1500 word report on their research. Students will present a 20 min group oral presentation as well as hand in a copy of their presentation and the associated report. Students will also complete a peer assessment for their group members, which will be taken into account in allocating the final mark.  The report and the workshop presentation components would contribute equally to the assessment weighting. The contribution of the peer assessment task would make up 10% of the report component and be comprised a brief (less than one page) assessment of the contributions of each of the members of the group, including the assessing student.

The assessment breakdown for each workshop will be 60% for the report and 40% for the group presentation.

Theory exam (40%)

The final theory exam will examine all components of the course. It will consist of short answer and long answer questions.

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.