PLNT4610/PLNT7690 Bioinformatics

2011 COURSE INFORMATION

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Brian Fristensky Office: 330 Agriculture Tel: 474-6085
Email: frist@cc.umanitoba.ca
OFFICE HOURS: 2:30 - 4:30 Tuesday, Thursday

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the theory, strategies, and practice of data management and analysis in molecular biology. Topics include DNA and protein sequence analysis, biological databases, genomic mapping, and analysis of gene expression data.

By the end of the course, students should

LECTURES AND LABS

Place: IST Unix Lab, Machray Hall, Room 113 
Lectures and Lab:  8:30 - 9:45 Tuesday, Thursday

WWW SITE

Most course materials are available online at: http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/plant_science/courses/PLNT7690/

EVALUATION CRITERIA

This course is dual-numbered as both a graduate and undergraduate course. Assignments, exams, and presentations are apportioned somewhat differently, between the two.

PLNT4610 - Undergraduate

Assignments, 3 @ 20% each

Assignments will be designed to test both understanding of theory and the ability to apply theory to a specific problem. Four assignments may be handed in, but only the top three grades will count. Students will post completed assignments to their web sites for viewing by the instructor.

Topics may include:

  • simulated cloning
  • contig assembly
  • genome annotation
  • phylogeny of a multigene family
  • genetic mapping
  • creation a database relating to an area of your own interest 

60%

Mid-term examination

20%

Final examination

20%



PLNT7690 - Graduate
Assignments, 4 @ 20% each

Assignments will be designed to test both understanding of theory and the ability to apply theory to a specific problem. Five assignments may be handed in, but only the top four grades will count toward the final grade. In some cases, students will post completed assignments to a Web page for viewing by the instructor.

Topics may include:

  • simulated cloning
  • contig assembly
  • genome annotation
  • phylogeny of a multigene family
  • genetic mapping
  • creation a database relating to an area of your own interest 
80%
WWW presentation

Each student will prepare and present a 15-min. Web-based presentation in class. The presentation will focus on some aspect of bioinformatics. It may be done at any time during the term, during class. Depending on enrollment, it may be necessary to schedule an evening session to complete all presentations.

20%

Grading is according to the Letter Grade System (Undergraduate Calendar section 3) ranging from 0 to 4.5 or F to  A+. Roughly speaking, a C corresponds to understanding of a large portion of the material, the B range encompasses mastery of most of the material, and the A range indicates original thinking and creativity. Put another way:

Grade Point

Percentage

Letter Grade

comments

4.5/5

90%

A+

synthesis, ability to put things together from different parts of the course, original and creative thinking

4.0/5

80%

A

3.5/5

70%

B+

learning concepts or inferring them from the context; working with data eg. Given the results of an experiment, what does it tell you? Given an equation, can you use it correctly?

3.0/5

60%

B

2.5/5

50%

C+

memorization of facts

2.0/5

40%

C

1.5/5

30%

D+

1.0/5

20%

D+

This grading rubric should only be taken as a rough guide for how I construct assignment and exam questions. Not all questions and assignments can be precisely broken down in this fashion.

LATE SUBMISSION POLICY

Due dates for assignments will given for each assignment. Grades on assignments handed in late will be decremented by 4 points per day late, for a maximum of  20 points (ie. the total value of the assignment).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students are reminded that academic dishonesty including plagiarism, cheating and examination impersonation is subject to severe academic penalties as described  the University Policy on Academic Integrity, Section 7 in the General Calendar.