This course is designed for beginning students who want to become familiar with the basic concepts and applications of genomics. The course covers a wide range of topics including how genomes are mapped and sequenced as well as the latest computational and experimental techniques for calling genomic variants, epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and accessible chromatin, and inferring transcription factor binding sites and motifs. High throughput techniques for ascribing function to DNA, RNA, and protein sequences including single-cell RNA-seq, whole genome sequencing, massively parallel reporter assays, chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) analysis, and metagenomics will also be discussed. Finally, the use of genomic techniques and resources for studies of human disease will be discussed. A heavy emphasis will be put on students acquiring the basic skills needed to navigate databases that archive sequence data, expression data and other types of genome-wide data. Through problem sets the students will learn to manipulate and analyze the large data sets that accompany genomic analyses by writing simple computer scripts. While students will become sophisticated users of computational tools and databases, programming and the theory behind it are covered elsewhere, in Michael Brent's class, Bio 5495 Computational Molecular Biology. Because of limited space in our teaching lab, enrollment for lab credit will be limited to 30 students. Priority will be given to students in the DBBS program. Others interested in the course may enroll for the lectures only. If you have previous experience in computer programming, we ask that you do not enroll for the laboratory credit. Prereqs, Molecular Cell Biology (Bio 5068), Nucleic Acids (Bio 548) or by permission of instructor. To enroll in just the lecture section, register for 3 credits. To enroll in both the lecture and lab sections, register for 4 credits. Credit variable, max 4 units.
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