Entry requirements

Bioinformatic Analyses I.

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on evolutionary analyses and analyses of biological diversity. After the course, the student should be able to:

explain and justify different models for sequence evolution

explain and evaluate different phylogenetic optimality criteria and choose the appropriate criterion to solve a given problem

outline and apply the process to make and evaluate a phylogenetic analysis and explain the different subparts

explain the principles of up-to-date multivariate methods

choose and apply (for the problem area) existing software on a given biological problem

critically analyse, evaluate and compile obtained results

Content

The course mainly deals with bioinformatics with a focus on evolutionary analyses and contains the following parts and aspects:

Models for sequence evolution and statistical sequence comparisons. Phylogenetics; trees and networks, parsimony, distance methods, probability based methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses). Multivariate methods for reducing dimensionality and visualisation (for example PCA and MDS). GIS. Databases for biodiversity.

Modules: Theory 2 credits; computer exercise 2 credits; project 1 credit.

Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of computer-based net teaching, lectures, computer exercises and project assignment.

Assessment

To pass the course, the student is required to, by written reports, to pass all computer exercises equivalent to 2 credits and project assignment equivalent to 1 credit. The theory part is examined by a written examination equivalent to 2 credits.