Bioinformatics for Biologist (5 days course)

🧬 Unlock the Mysteries of Life: Bioinformatics for Biologists 🚀

Course Overview: This comprehensive 5-day journey into the world of Bioinformatics is meticulously designed for biologists, life scientists, and anyone eager to grasp the core principles of genomics without a prior university background in Bioinformatics. Dr. Sadaf Ambreen, an esteemed instructor in the field, will guide you through the intricate language of Genetics and the vast expanse of genomic data.

What You'll Learn:

• Understanding the Basics: Delve into the fundamentals of Genetics that apply to all organisms, from the tiniest bacteria to the grand complexity of humans.
• Exploring Databases and Tools: Get hands-on experience with genomic databases, learning to navigate and utilize them for your research needs.
• Mastering BLAST and Homology: Discover how to use the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to find similar genetic sequences and understand homology to trace evolutionary relationships.
• Phylogenetic Analysis: Learn advanced techniques to construct phylogenetic trees, which are crucial for understanding the evolutionary history of species and organisms.

Course Highlights:

• Genetics Across Organisms: A primer on understanding genetics, genetic variation, and inheritance patterns across a wide range of organisms.
• Genomic Data Analysis: Develop skills to analyze and interpret complex genomic data in computational labs, providing practical insights into modern Bioinformatics applications.
• Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA): Master the technique of aligning multiple sequences to identify functional motifs and patterns, which is a cornerstone in comparative genomics.
• Evolutionary Biology: Explore the principles of evolution and how it shapes the genomic architecture of different species.

Course Objectives:

• To provide a foundational understanding of Bioinformatics and its applications in various fields such as Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Botany, Zoology, and beyond.
• To equip students with the necessary tools and knowledge to analyze genomic data effectively.
• To stimulate critical thinking about the social implications of advancements in genomics.

Course Outline:

1. Basic concepts Bioinformatics
   • Basics Genetics of all organisms
   • Database exploration and usage
   • BLAST: Finding similar genetic sequences
   • Homology and its significance
   • Phylogenetic analysis techniques

Required Reading:

• "Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics" (2nd edition) by Jonathan Pevsner, Wiley-Liss, ISBN# 978-0-470-08585.
• "Introduction to Genomics" by Arthur M. Lesk, Oxford University Press, 2007.
• "Principles of Genome Analysis and Genomics (Third Edition)" by Sandy B. Primrose and Richard Twyman, Blackwell Publishing, 2008.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in genomics and Bioinformatics, which is applicable to specialized postgraduate courses like genomics, cancer genomics, evolution, or molecular biology. Embrace the opportunity to become proficient in interpreting the 'language of God' as referred to by Francis Sellers Collins in "The Language of God" (2006), and contribute meaningfully to the scientific community. 🌿🧬🍃

Join us on this enlightening adventure into the heart of biological data, where Bioinformatics transforms raw genetic information into life-altering insights! 🚀🔬