Course content

The course aims at providing an introduction to the use of important methods in bioinformatics, including sequence library searches, pairwise and multiple alignment, phylogenetic analysis, gene prediction and structure prediction. The usage of these methods is also discussed in a systems biology context, and ontologies, large scale analysis and studies of complex systems will be discussed. The students will be able to test the methods on realistic problems through PC-based exercises. There will be emphasis on using an interdisciplinary approach during presentations and exercises, in order to make the course accessible to students in informatics as well as medicine and molecular biology.

Learning outcome

After completing the course MTEK3001, the student is able to:
- explain the main principles of important algorithms and methods used in bioinformatics tools, including dynamic programming, hidden Markov models and neural networks
- explain function and use of important bioinformatic tools, in particular tools for sequence level analyses (genome, gene, RNA, protein)
- describe important formats for storage and exchange of bioinformatic data
- describe content and use of important bioinformatic databases and web portals
- describe the use of bioinformatic tools and databases as a basis for systems biology
- use bioinformatic tools and databases to analyse relevant data from molecular biology

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises (in computer lab). The lectures are given in the spring semester and start late January / early February. The examination in the spring semester is written, whereas examination in the autumn semester will be oral. The language of instruction and examination is English.
The timetable will be available at https://timeplan.medisin.ntnu.no/timetable_show.php

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in molecular biology, statistics and informatics.

Course materials

Announced at the start of the course.

Credit reductions