• Offered by Biology Teaching and Learning Centre
  • ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
  • Course subject Biology
  • Areas of interest Bioinformatics, Biology
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • Prof Gavin Huttley
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Co-taught Course
  • Offered in Second Semester 2019
    See Future Offerings

This course provides an introduction to the key methods and technologies of bioinformatics as pertinent to genomics. These are the fastest growing fields of biology and perhaps science. Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing scientific discipline at the interface of genomics, statistics and computer science that has distinct but overlapping aspects: the development of computational infrastructure (eg. algorithms, programs, databases) and their use to analyse a wide variety of biological data. Among these data, genes, transcripts and epigenetic features play a central role. Their rapid and large-scale acquisition in today's genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and other -omics projects poses the major challenge of modern biology. The large-scale and genome-wide analysis of these data relies on advances in bioinformatics and statistics. As computer literacy is central to genomic biology, it is also central to this course. Accordingly, the course includes short sections on computer programming using the Python and R programming languages. Topics covered will include techniques for sequence comparison, population and comparative genomics, and transcript analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
  1. Describe and apply a variety of methods in bioinformatics, including computer programming. 
  2. Describe and evaluate current research procedures across a range of topics in bioinformatics.
  3. Evaluate and interpret current literature in areas of bioinformatic practice.
  4. Evaluate research methodology in the context of bioinformatic analysis of DNA sequence data. 
  5. Demonstrate the ability to obtain quantitative results from mathematical and statistical models through analytical and computational methods. 

Indicative Assessment

Assessment will be based on: 

Assignments on five topics 100% (20% ea) distributed throughout the semester including computer programming exercise - LO1,2,3,4,5.

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

Two computer labs of 2 hours per week. In addition, the course requires substantial number of self-assigned(i.e. non-contact) hours.

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have previously completed BIOL2151 or BIOL3161 and BIOL2001 or BIOL2202 or STAT1003 or STAT1008. This course is incompatible with BIOL6243.

Assumed Knowledge

Students are strongly encouraged to take an introductory computer science course, such as COMP1730 or COMP1100.

Majors

Specialisations

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
2
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2019 $3840
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2019 $5460
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
7576 22 Jul 2019 29 Jul 2019 31 Aug 2019 25 Oct 2019 In Person View

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