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BINF550 Bioinformatics

Updated: 08 December 2009
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus A- Internet access required
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions BINF350
Notes None
Combined Units BINF350 - Bioinformatics
Coordinator(s)
Unit Description

Bioinformatics is a broad interdisciplinary science that involves conceptual and practical tools for understanding, generation, processing and propagation of biological information. It covers relevant areas of statistics and computer science, biological databases, computational genomics and phylogenetics. The topics covered include dynamic programming, biological database operations, sequence search and alignments, gene detection and prediction, computational genomics and proteomics, microarrays and phylogenetic analysis. Besides solid theoretical knowledge, students will receive good practical experience in modelling, computing and interpreting information in modern biological databases. This unit is recommended for postgraduate students interested in working with current genomic technologies.
Recommended Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis
ISBN: 9780879697129
Mount, D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 2nd ed. 2004
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 20% 2000
Assessment Notes
Essay or equivalent
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 3 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Assignment 2 25% 1300
Assessment Notes
Problem sets/Tutorial reports
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Unit Test 20% 1000
Assessment Notes
Mid term exam
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 GA: 1, 2, 6
Final Examination 2 hrs 35%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. develop essential theoretical knowledge relevant to some fundamental problems of computational biology/bioinformatics;
  2. obtain essential statistical skills relevant to a number of areas of modern biology;
  3. obtain essential computer skills relevant to several biological problems;
  4. obtain basic practical skills operating with different biological databases and software; and
  5. demonstrate a broader understanding of the topics covered and more highly developed practical skills in the use of the relevant software.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are taught and practise the fundamental aspects bioinformatics and learn the basic skills for making practical use of algorithms and tools used in bioinformatics. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students orally present a critical discussion of a topic in bioinformatics and write a report on the topic. Students also work in groups during practicals. Various assignments target scientific writing. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are instructed and assessed on the use of scientific literature. Students are shown how to find and use a wide range of sources including databases of genomic information. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students are instructed in and practise learning skills that will be useful to them beyond the scope of the unit. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Students work on several practicals that involve problem solving and learn how to make decisions regarding choice of tools/algorithms and parameterization. 		True True True
8 Team Work
Students work in groups during practicals. 		True
   

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