Summative:- Coursework 100%.

- Portfolio of bioinformatic work - a report on web-based activities involving the analysis of DNA sequences and navigating genomic data (2,3)

Full details of assessment are provided in the module handbook

Formative feedback will be given over the portfolio of tasks associated with the module topics, in tutorials online. Discussion between students will be encouraged allowing peer and tutor feedback to be given.

In recent years is has become possible for the first time to view the complete genetic information of an organism. The field, genomics, is revolutionary and is having far- reaching consequences in biology and health related areas. Of course the data generated, sequence data, has to be interpreted. This module covers the interpretation of this data through software tools; the field of Bioinformatics. The following topics will be addressed: sequence assembly, DNA, protein sequences - revision of structure , gene structure and identification in DNA sequences, homology searching, gene expression data – the transcriptome, Microarray data, proteomics interpreting DNA and genomic sequences, bioinformatics, understanding genomes and functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, protein interactions. The value and potential application of sequence information will have an emphasis on the human genome and genomes of organisms involved in disease.

1) A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF GENOME ANALYSIS AND AN EVALUATION OF THE LIMITATIONS OF IT AND HOW THIS DETERMINES GENOMIC STRATEGIES Knowledge and Understanding, Application, Analysis
2) TO ACCESS GENOMIC INFORMATION FROM THE DATABASES AND UNDERTAKE ANALYSIS OF DNA SEQUENCES. Application, Analysis, Problem Solving, Learning
3) UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF GENOMICS AND THE STRATEGIES USED TO INTERPRET THE DATA GENERATED Knowledge and Understanding, Enquiry, Learning Communication,
4) HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE TO WHICH BIOINFORMATICS IS APPLIED Application, Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis,

Huge amounts of important data is being generated from genomic projects. The analysis of this data will be studied, including: gene identification, homology searching, genomic databases, gene prediction, functional genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.

The¿Masters in Molecular Biology¿by blended learning¿has been specifically designed for those¿that¿require ultimate flexibility with their learning.¿ The module will be¿hosted on Blackboard and you will have access to asynchronous¿lecture¿material¿and self-directed workshop material.¿ You will also be given the opportunity to join our¿on-campus¿cohort for synchronous delivery on 2 occasions per module¿- virtual attendance at these sessions will be encouraged but not mandatory.¿¿¿

The workshop activities will guide extensive directed independent study by the student.¿These directed independent tasks will allow you to demonstrate the use of bioinformatics software and the interpretation of the data. You will submit the required evidence of completion of the tasks for the portfolio assessment.

Note that the module will mainly use current material from e- journals and bioinformatics web-sites - of which there are a plethora, however the texts below will be relevant, they all have fairly recent new editions.¿

A. Lesk. Introduction to Bioinformatics 4rd ed, 2017 Oxford University Press¿

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P. (2015). Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th edition. Garland Science. ISBN 978-0-8153-4106-2¿

T. Strachan, J. Goodship & P. Chinnery (2015) Genetics & Genomics in Medicine, Garland Science ISBN 978-0-8153-4480-3¿

You will need access to a computer¿with access to the internet