| CODE | BIO2520 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Bioinformatics and Genomics | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is designed to equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge on the use of bioinformatic tools for obtaining information from genetic resources. Topics covered include: - Use of bioinformatic tools in genomics and proteomics. - Importance and utility of these tools for analysing the large data sets of genetic information that is being generated and to further use tool to study the function and interactions of proteins. - Use of bioinformatic tools and nucleic acid and protein sequence databases to predict gene regulation, protein function and RNA structure; to align sequences and construct phylogenetic trees; and to analyse microarray data. Students are informed that regular attendance to lectures, practical classes and visits is obligatory. Students will be allowed to sit for the examination and a grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if attendance to lectures, practical sessions and/or field/site visits has been regular and if they have submitted all assignments and report as required. Study-unit Aims: This unit is mainly aimed at equipping students with knowledge of: - The use of bioinformatic tools in genomics and proteomics; - The importance and need of these tools for analysing the large data sets of genetic information that is being generated and to further use tool to study the function and interactions of proteins; - The use of bioinformatic tools and nucleic acid and protein sequence databases to: (a) Predict gene regulation, protein function and RNA structure (b) Align sequences and construct phylogenetic trees' (c) Analyse microarray data. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the need of bionformatics in today's world; - Appreciate the use of databases to retrieve information on DNA sequences, genes and proteins; - Predict gene regulation by identifying promoter regions and regulatory elements; - Predict and visualize RNA structure (folding) and protein structure; - Predict protein function and interaction using bioinformatics tools; - Understand protein structure models and drug discovery; - Appreciate the use of bioinformatic tools to align DNA sequences; - Construct and interpret phylogenetic trees; - Appreciate the use bioinformatics tools for microarray analysis. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply theoretical principles on bioinformatics to practice; - Use databases to retrieve information on DNA sequences, genes and proteins; - Be able to predict gene regulation by identifying promoter regions and regulatory elements and predict and visualize RNA structure (folding) and protein structure; - Predict protein function and interaction using bioinformatics tools; - Use bioinformatic tools to align DNA sequences; - Construct and interpret phylogenetic trees; - Use bioinformatics tools for microarray analysis. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Michael Agostino. Practical Bioinformatics. Garland Science - Johnathan Pevsner. Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics. Wiley-Blackwell. 2nd (second) edition (1000) ASIN: B00BSZUBFK - Arthur M Lesk. An introduction to bioinformatics. Oxford University Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: BSc Hons Biology 1st year study-units | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Practicum | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Marisa Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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