Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title E-Biology: Informatics for Life Sciences (S2)
Code LIFE242
Coordinator Dr NS Savage
Functional and Comparative Genomics
Natasha.Savage@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 5 FHEQ Second Semester 7.5

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
None 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 3
Lectures introducing key concepts
  3
Class tutorials
15
Computer practicals
    21
Timetable (if known) This refers to timetabled lectures
  		  This refers to timetabled tutorials
  		This refers to e-learning sessions in computer suites, includes group work
  		     
Private Study 54
TOTAL HOURS 75

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  3 x 40 mins  Semester 2  90  Yes    Web-based assessment 
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  appr. 90 min  Semester 2  10  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Online quizzes Notes (applying to all assessments) Assessment 1 is three separate supervised web-based assessments and mcq’s (an assessment session will be run at the end of the module for students who missed assessments due to illness or other justifiable cause) Assessment 2 involves online quizzes (marks are allocated for completion of assessments by specified deadline and are returned for feedback purposes). 

Aims

  • Provide students with a practical appreciation of the nature and significance of both the scientific and ethical dimensions of digital data;

  • Train students in the bioinformatics tools for the analysis of data from areas such as genome sequencing, gene expression and protein structure studies;

  • Enable students to utilise digital data for understanding higher order phenomena within cells such as metabolism, gene regulation and protein-protein interaction;

  • Develop in students the knowledge and understanding of the subject and the ability to apply, evaluate and interpret this knowledge to solve problems in biotechnology, biomedicine and molecular cell biology.

    		•

    Learning Outcomes

    To apply informatics tools in the discovery, evaluation and acquisition of biological data

    To analyse datasets of broad biological relevance, using tasks and workflows that will prepare them for third-year projects

    To use local and web-based tools for data analysis, management and collaborative working;

    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Lecture - Lectures introducing key concepts

    This refers to timetabled lectures

    Tutorial - Class tutorials

    This refers to timetabled tutorials

    Laboratory Work - Computer practicals

    This refers to e-learning sessions in computer suites, includes group work

    Syllabus
    1 

    SSA = Self Study Assignment
    Lecture A1 1D data: Making sense of sequence data.
    Introduction to module and Block A
    SSA A2 The use of biological sequence databases to find genomes and gene and protein sequences. Genome browsers.
    SSA A3 Searching DNA and protein sequences for regulatory, structural and functional information.
    SSA A4 Comparing sequences (pairwise, multiple alignment, phylogenetics) and the importance of ontologies in facilitating comparisons.
    Clinic A5 Discussion of any issues arising from Block A
    Assessment A6 MCQ + short activities associated with Block A
    Lecture B1 2D and 3D data: Proteins and Proteomes.
    Introduction to Block B and case study phase 1< /span>
    SSA B2 Protein structure
    SSA B3 Analysing the proteome.
    SSA B4 Prediction of subcellular location.
    Clinic B5 Discussion of any issues arising from Block B
    Assessment B6 MCQ + short activities associated wi th Block B
    Lecture C1 Networks: Analysing interactions.
    Introduction to Block C and case study phase 2.
    SSA C2 Protein interaction networks
    SSA C3 Gene regulatory networks
    SSA C4 Metabolic pathways< span style="border-bottom:gainsboro 1pt solid;border-left:gainsboro 1pt solid;padding-bottom:1pt;padding-left:1pt;padding-right:1pt;font-family:''verdana'', ''sans-serif'';background:white;font-size:10pt;border-top:gainsboro 1pt solid;border-right:gainsboro 1pt solid;padding-top:1pt" />
    Clinic C5 Discussion of any issues arising from Block C
    Assessment C6 MCQ + short activities associated with Block C

    Recommended Texts
    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List: