Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing scientific discipline at the interface of genomics and computer science that has two distinct but overlapping aspects: the development of computer infrastructure (e.g. algorithm, programs, databases) and their use to analyse a wide variety of biological data. Among these data, genes, transcripts and epigenetic variants play a central role. Their rapid and large-scale acquisition in today's genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and other -omics projects poses the major challenge for modern biology. The large-scale and genome-wide analysis of these data is often referred to as 'functional genomics' and relies on advances in bioinformatics and high throughput technologies such as 3rd generation sequencing.
 
This course provides an introduction to the key methods and technologies of bioinformatics and functional genomics, the fastest growing fields of biology and perhaps science. As computer literacy is central, the course will include a short section on computer programming using the Python programming language. Topics covered will include sequence comparison techniques, genome databases searches, population and comparative genomics, sequencing techniques, genome evolution.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.