BIOE 825 Bioinformatics for Epidemiologists

Course Instructor

Dr. Julia Krushkal

Phone: (901) 448-1361

Course Catalog Description

This course will describe concepts and methods in bioinformatics in application to the needs of an epidemiologist. After providing an overview of concepts in molecular biology, genetics, and molecular evolution, this course will cover various methods of computational genetic analysis and available databases and software resources. Students will learn about DNA and protein sequence analysis, gene mapping, phylogenetic analysis, molecular biology databases and software packages, expression data analysis, and protein analysis resources. Prerequisites: Genetic Epidemiology. Course Credit: 1 credit hour.

Who Can Take This Course?

This is an elective course offered as part of the Master of Science in Epidemiology Program at the University of Tennesee Health Science Center. Students not enrolled in the Master of Science in Epidemiology Program can also register for this course. For better understanding of the material, we recommend that students take BIOE 824, Genetic Epidemiology prior to taking this course. Those students who have not previously taken Genetic Epidemiology can register for BIOE 825 Bioinformatics for Epidemiologists after discussing their background with Dr. Julia Krushkal, course instructor.

When is the Course Offered?

The course will be offered next time in the Spring semester of academic year 2004/2005, and it is currently planned to be offered once in every two years.

Course Content

This is a lectures only, 1 credit hour course in bioinformatics theory specifically tailored to the needs of epidemiology researchers. Material is presented in 50 min lectures are presented once a week. The lectures will be posted electronically in PowerPoint format on the Blackboard site of the University of Tennesee Health Science Center. Students will learn course material from lectures, recommended supplementary reading material, and through homework assignments.

The following material will be covered in the Spring of 2004/2005:

Definition and overview of bioinformatics

Introduction to molecular biology and genetics

Introduction to genetic linkage

Introduction to population genetics

Molecular evolution

Biological markers

Genomics

Molecular biology databases

Quantitative and qualitative traits

Genetic linkage analysis

Association analysis

Introduction to DNA and protein sequence analysis

Bioinformatics analysis of gene expression data

Bioinformatics analysis of functional genomics data

Elucidation of gene regulatory networks and metabolic pathways

Method of Evaluation

Regular homework assignments throughout the cours and an out-of-class final exam at the end of the course.

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This page was last updated on September 1, 2004.