BIOT19002 Proteomics & Bioinformatics

This course offers the student an introduction into theoretical and practical aspects of proteomic and bioinformatic research and their application to the rapidly developing biotechnological sector. At the end of the course, students should understand the basic scientific principles behind the study of many aspects of protein structure and function, methodologies for understanding and manipulating proteins and how these techniques can be applied to industries such as medicine and agriculture. Practical courses will be designed to give students hands-on skills in techniques for protein indentification, manipulation and interaction, in the context of application to industry. The bioinformatics component is designed to give the student an introduction in the use of software applications and database resources that assist biotechnologists in their research. These include bibliographic, taxonomic, nucleic acid, genomic, and protein databases and analysis software. This part of the course will be heavily computer- dependent and use Web-based applications in the theoretical and practical components. This includes problem-solving exercises such as identification and characterization of molecular sequences of such molecules as DNA and proteins.