91̽»¨

The course is included in the master´s program in Bioinformatics, but is also offered as a freestanding course that can be included in e.g. master’s degrees in Biology, Molecular biology or Marine biology.

For admission to the course the student needs at least 120 credits (or equivalent) in any of the following fields: natural sciences including mathematics, medicine, and pharmacy. It is recommended that the student has taken other courses in bioinformatics, e.g BIO511, or equivalent.

In addition, English proficiency is required to the level of English 6/English Course B from Swedish Upper Secondary School, or be certified by an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL or IELTS or equivalent.

The course will introduce bioinformatic analyses with focus on RNA and protein sequence data. The course will describe and explain different methods for analysis and interpretation of large-scale gene expression i.e transcriptomics (RNA-Seq).

The course will also introduce the students to proteomics with focus on NMR data analysis and interpretation, and protein structure prediction tools.

Bioinformatic tools including command line and Python programming will be used in analyses of datasets within practical projects that are performed during the course. The practical projects will also introduce theory and practical applications for methods and programs for visualization of nucleotide and amino acid sequence data.

The course will focus on providing the students with ability to link the information generated by bioinformatic analyses, including limitations of different omic- approaches and analysis methods, with understanding of the biological context of generated results. The knowledge generated during the course is central within molecular biology, biology, and systems biology and can be applied within most biological and medical topics.

The course is divided in sub-courses.

Sub-course 1; Bioinformatic Theory, 10 credits

Sub-course 2; Bioinformatic computer laborations, 5 credits

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate general knowledge of transcription and translation processes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Demonstrate general knowledge on transcriptional and translational- omics methods including sequence-based analyses and protein structure analyses
• Explain the workflow from RNA library preparations to visualization of transcriptomic data
• Account for methods used for protein structure determination and analysis

Competence and skills

• Interpret and understand data from transcriptomic and proteomic datasets
• Use bioinformatics tools to analyze and visualize transcriptomics and amino acid data
• Perform statistical analyses and visualization of large scale data using Python
• Present and critically discuss bioinformatic data and results.

Judgement and approach

• Reason about information and limitations of different analysis approaches in RNA and protein biology
• Critically review and evaluate the quality of datasets

Sub-course 1; The course is based on lectures with theory about the biological background of transcription and translation in different organisms, Lectures with the theory behind methods in transcriptomics and proteomics and bioinformatical analyses that will be used in the practical part Module 2 is covered as well as theoretical discussions on how to interpret data.

Sub-course 2; The module has practical sessions to explore and analyze biological data and deepen theoretical knowledge.

Compulsory parts in the course are the practical sessions and participation in oral and/or written presentations of the results from the practical projects.

Sub-course 1; The course ends with an exam covering the full theoretical content.

Sub-course 2; Active participation in the written report, and presentation of the practical sessions is required for passing the computational module.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University 91̽»¨ with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University 91̽»¨.

Sub-course 1; The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

Requirements for Pass (G) is 60% of total points and for Pass with distinction (VG) 85 % of total points for the written exam.

Sub-course 2; The practical parts have pass (G) or fail (U).

Final grade; Requirements for Pass (G) is 60% of total points and for Pass with distinction (VG) 85 % of total points for the written exam. The practical part of the course must have pass (G)

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.