Class Computational Methods in Biology

The rapid growth of the internet is providing an expansion territory to informations that also turns the diffusion of processing tools easier. Bioinformatics databases and available software for their treatment will be presented. The theoretical concepts (biological and mathematical) at the origin of these treatments will also be mentionned.

Not applicable

1. Introduction to Bioinformatics. Definition. Evolution and phylogenetic tree of the living world. Macromolecules and informatics. Main Bioinformatics organizations. 2. Databases. Technical considerations. Main databases. 3. Analysis and comparison of sequences. Nucleotide substitution models. Sequence similarity. Sequence comparison methods and evolutionary distance. Sequence alignment. Programs and basic notions. 4. Phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic tree models. Tree construction methods. Statistical tests (Bootstrap) and programs. 5. Structural analysis of macromolecules. Protein evolution. Structure prediction. Protein classification. Biomolecule structure determination. Resources and programs. 6. Genomics and proteomics. Genomes (sequencing, annotation, comparison, farmacogenetics). Proteomes (bidimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry). Transcriptomes (microarrays).

The essentially practical nature of this CU is aimed at developping in the student a know how that will be indispensable in his future carreer. Only the repeted use of the main techniques offered in the course will allow the student to reach the mastery of these techniques.

- Graur D. & Li W.-H. (2000). Fundamentals of molecular evolution. Sinauer, Sunderland. - Voet D. & Voet. J.G. (2010). Biochemistry, 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York.