The distance learning course 'Introduction to Bioinformatics' from the
University of Manchester, UK, begins again on 6 October 2008. This is a
Masters level course; credits can count towards either the MSc in
Bioinformatics or the MSc in Immunology and Immunogenetics
(http://www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/distancelearning/).
The course is delivered in a Virtual Learning Environment, which allows
us to extend the classroom into the web. Teaching and learning are
focussed around tutor-supported exercises. In this course, participants
work together on the interpretation of their results, before receiving
feedback from the course tutor. Participants who wish to be assessed
for credits at MSc level should complete additional independent research.
Week 1 Introduction to distance learning
Bioinformatics as a knowledge-based discipline
Weeks 2 and 3 Introduction to the sequence databases
Quality, redundancy and annotation
Sequence retrieval exercise and group discussion
Weeks 4 and 5 Nucleic acid sequence analysis
1. locating features in a genomic sequence;
2. resources for genome structure prediction;
3. evaluating the programs;
4. genome annotation.
Group work on the annotation of a genomic sequence
Weeks 6 and 7 Independent research and assessment
Weeks 8 and 9 Sequence alignment and database search
1. use of BLAST and FASTA, choosing suitable options for a database
search;
2. interpretation of the results.
Weeks 10 and 11 Protein function prediction.
1. multiple sequence alignment;
2. prediction of :
a) transmembrane helices;
b) other hydrophobic regions;
c) various signal sequences.
3. use of the motif and profile databases;
Weeks 12 and 13 Protein structure prediction
Practical exercise and group discussion
Weeks 14 to 16 Independent research and work on the second assessment
Additional information is available here :
http://octette.cs.man.ac.uk/bioinformatics/modules/bs6061.html or from
Heather.Vincent from manchester.ac.uk
