EPM5012

Bioinformatics and statistical genetics ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Dr Graham Byrnes

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2005 (OCL)

Synopsis: The unit begins with a brief review of elementary molecular biology: DNA, RNA, the central dogma, meiosis, mitosis and genes. Some fundamental mathematical tools for statistical analysis are also reviewed. The unit then covers sequence alignment, database searching, Mendelian genetics and techniques for discovering connections between genes and disease: association, linkage and variance components studies.

Objectives: On completion of this unit students should be able to: 1. Understand basic molecular biology and use this to assess claims of genetic causation of disease; 2. Interpret the results of database searching to identify gene function, taking account of the statistics of alignment scores; 3. Apply standard concepts of mathematical statistics, in particular likelihood theory, to the analysis of molecular and population genetics; 4. Investigate the degree of genetic contribution to disease via twin-study data; 5. Analyse data for the presence of association or linkage of specific genes with given diseases.

Assessment: The assessment for this unit will involve five written assignments each worth 20%. The assignments will each involve the application of theory to problems specific to the various analytical tasks in bioinformatics and statistical genetics.

Prerequisites: MPH1040 Epidemiology; EPM5002 Mathematical Background for Biostatistics; EPM5003 Principles of Statistical Inference; EPM 5004 Linear Models