Prerequisite: Program placed, BIO 250 and BIO 253 with a “C” or better, or biotechnology program head permission
This course covers basic computer concepts and Internet skills and uses a software suite, which includes word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software to demonstrate skills. It 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. The course includes hands-on sessions to allow students to become familiar with these resources and their navigation and applications.
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 future 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.