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BIO 255: Bioinformatics and Computer Applications in Biotechnology (2 Credits)
Overview

Course Description

Covers basic computer concepts and Internet skills and uses a software suite, which includes word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software to demonstrate skills. Introduces students to basic online tools and resources to retrieve and analyze biological data, such as DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, structures, functions, pathways, and interactions. Includes hands-on sessions to allow students to become familiar with these resources and their navigation and applications. Lecture 2 hours a week.

General Course Purpose

This course is designed to prepare students to be successful entry level laboratory technicians by teaching and reinforcing their computer skills, including the navigation and adept use of biological information databases. Computer skills are requisite in most of the upcoming careers in the knowledge based economy, and this course is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to use office management programs, send netiquette appropriate emails, and use the online bioinformatics databases and tools to mine for information relevant to biotechnology.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Program placed, BIO 250 and BIO 253 with a “C” or better, or biotechnology program head permission

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Objectives
 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

  1. Effectively use word - processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and email software tools
  2. Identify and navigate important biological databases
  3. Use appropriate tools for searching and analyzing biological data (FASTA, BLAST, CLUSTALW, etc.)
  4. Prepare a phylogenetic analysis using a computer program
  5. Use a basic protein folding program
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Materials
 

There are no required textbooks for this course. The required materials for this course are

  • Word processing program (Microsoft Word, Open Office Writer for PC or Mac, Pages for Mac, or other word processing program that will allow you to save documents in .doc and .rtf formats)
  • Spreadsheet program (Microsoft Excel, Open Office Calc for PC or Mac, Numbers for Mac, or other spreadsheet program that will allow you to save your files in .xls or .csv formats)
  • Presentation program (Microsoft PowerPoints, Open Office Impress for PC or Mac, Keynote for Mac, or other presentation program that will allow you to save your files in a .ppt format)
  • Adobe Reader or Preview (Mac) for reading .pdf files

NOTE: You can use any Word processing program or Spreadsheet program that is available to you to complete the assignments as long as you save your assignments in the required formats. However, you will have to use Office 2013 in the testing centers for the two proctored exams. Please find the detailed instructions for the assignments and the exams in the Assignments section.

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Grading
 

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Assignment
Points
11 Assignments
670
2 Exams @ 100 point
200

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least several exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

Grading Scale
Grade
Points
Percent
A
828-920
90-100
B
763-827
80-89
C
644-735
70-79
D
552-643
60-69
F
0-551
0-59
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Exams
 

There are 2 exams in this course.

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ELI Policies and Procedures
 
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Beginning the Course
 

Last Updated: February 16, 2016