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.

The Masters in Molecular Biology is delivered on campus through a combination of lectures workshops and practical classes alongside directed self-study. The workshop activities will guide extensive study in the topic of bioinformatics by the student.¿These 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.

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.

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

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¿

1. UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY OF GENOME ANALYSIS AND AN EVALUATION OF THE LIMITATIONS OF IT AND HOW THIS DETERMINES GENOMIC STRATEGIES
2. ACCESS GENOMIC INFORMATION FROM THE DATABASES AND UNDERTAKE ANALYSIS OF DNA SEQUENCES
3. UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF GENOMICS AND THE STRATEGIES USED TO INTERPRET THE DATA GENERATED
4. HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE TO WHICH BIOINFORMATICS IS APPLIED

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. Discussion between students will be encouraged allowing peer and tutor feedback to be given.