BMME 8053 Introduction to Bioinformatics: Getting Started

Required Textbooks:

1. The student will need a computer with privileges to install software. Use of an Apple is recommended.If the student has a PC, it will need to have additional software installed. Students with Windows 10 can install a LINUXshell directly. Alternatively, students can use the program, Cygwin, to allow access to a UNIXinterface. Instructions for installing Cygwin and Windows 10 LINUXshell will be provided in the course.
2. Practical computing for biologists (Haddock, S.H.D., & Dunn C.W. (2011), N0. 57: 004 HAD) - Recommended text
3. The NCBI Handbook – Available free online at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21101/
4. Weekly reading assignments and instructional videos will provided during the course.

At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:

• Use basic computer programming skills to manipulate DNA sequence data.
• Locate the appropriate online database for acquiring molecular sequence data.
• Apply the appropriate bioinformatics analyses to address real biological questions.
• Understand some of the larger questions and issues within bioinformatics.
• Read and summarize primary literature within the bioinformatics field.