BMS2062

Bioinformatics and communication

6 points · 3 lectures and 3 hours of laboratory or self-directed learning/tutorial session per week · Second semester · Clayton

Objectives This subject is an introduction to the principles of bioinformatics and the pivotal role that informatics plays in the biomedical sciences. On completion of the subject the students will have a basic understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of information technology and its wider application to the medical sciences. The students will develop an understanding of the principles of database searching, using search engines, sequence alignments, phylogeny, molecular modelling, protein structure analysis and medical imaging.

Synopsis Bioinformatics unites the major advances in biology, biochemistry and the medical sciences with those in computing, informatics and networking. This subject introduces students to both the theoretical and practical aspects of bioinformatics and builds upon the material in BMS1062 (Molecular biology). The subject will emphasise the relevance and power of bioinformatics to both medicine and the biomedical sciences. It will cover six major areas: (i) the application of the internet to biomedical sciences; (ii) organisation and uses of scientific databases; (iii) use of computational methods in genome analysis; (iv) fundamentals of molecular modelling and medical imaging; (v) analysis and presentation of biomedical data and (vi) communication of biomedical data using information technology. The basic theoretical principles and practical applications of these areas will be illustrated by examples taken from the biomedical sciences.

Assessment Written examination: 50% · Projects and assignments: 50%

Prescribed texts

To be advised

Back to the 1999 Medicine Handbook