Course Description
A focus on the remarkable impact that genome sequencing projects is having on virtually all aspects of biochemistry, as well as on medicine and biotechnology. An introduction to a broad range of 'omic' topics, including functional genomics, microarrays, proteomics, physiological genomics, and bioinformatics.
Athena Title
GENOMICS/BIOINFORM
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in BCMB 3600H
Prerequisite
BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100 or BCMB 4010/6010
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
BCMB 3600 is primarily a lecture-based course designed to provide students with a coherent, integrated introduction to modern genomics and bioinformatics. The student will be expected to acquire a basic understanding of the following subject areas: 1) the organization and objectives of genome projects (including ethics), 2) genome sequencing and genome annotation, 3) transcriptional profiling, 4) proteomics and functional genomics, 5) genetic variation, and 6) integrative genomics. Students who successfully complete the course should be able to comprehend primary literature in these areas and should also be equipped to take more advanced courses in genomics and/or bioinformatics. Student performance will be assessed primarily by written examinations (three to four during the course of the semester plus a cumulative final). These examinations will be in-class, closed-book exams and will include a variety of question formats (multiple choice, problems, short essay, etc.). Genomics and bioinformatics are integrally dependent upon computer technology and web-based databases and algorithms. The Gibson and Muse text that we have selected for the course supports several web-based exercises designed to expose students to the use of such resources. Students will be assigned a limited number of these exercises and will submit the output either in printed form or electronically. Because of the difficulty of monitoring assignments completed remotely, grading of these exercises will be confined to simple notation that the exercise has been completed. In addition, some questions on the written exams will be constructed to test the student's successful completion of these exercises. Student evaluations will be obtained at the end of the semester in accordance with university and department policy. Student recommendations for improvements to the course will be considered in the design of the course in subsequent years.
Topical Outline
The course will cover most of the topics in the text 'A Primer of Genome Science' by G. Gibson and S. V. Muse, published in 2002 by Sinauer. The topics will include genome projects, genome sequencing and annotation, gene expression and the transcriptome, proteomics, functional genomics, SNPs, metabolomics and computational genomics. An outline of the syllabus is as follows: 1. Genome Projects: Organization and Objectives Genome Science The Human Genome Project Animal Genomes Plant Genomes Other Genome Project 2. Genome Sequencing and Annotation Automated DNA sequencing Emerging Sequencing Methods Genome Annotation Functional Annotation Gene Family Clusters 3. Gene Expression and the Transcriptome Parallel Analysis of Gene Expression/Microarrays Microbeads and Differential Display Single Gene Analysis Properties of Transcriptomes 4. Proteomics and Functional Genomics Functional Proteomics Structural Proteomics Functional Genomics 5. SNPs and Variation Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms SNP Technology Genotyping 6. Integrative Genomics Metabolomics In silico Genomics
Syllabus