Bioinformatics comprises – among other things – the use of computers and information technology to answer biological questions, something that is necessary in all areas of biology. The three courses Bioinfomatics Analyses I, IIa and IIb provide a toolbox and teach you to apply the tools within your own area of biology.

The courses are intended for those that do not have bioinformatics as their primary interest, but need it as a tool. It is thus the aim that they can be followed in parallel with other courses. Hence, they are part-time (5 hp/half semester). They are based on computer-aided learning, and you can read the theory and do the assignments on-line at your own discretion, as well as join discussions on the theory or assignments with the teachers or your course mates. This is supplemented with a limited number of lectures, and with exercises on-site.

Bioinformatics analyses IIb is for you, who studies, for example, genomics, cell- or microbiology. The course comprises microarray analyses of expression patterns and comparative genome hybridization, as well as metabolic networks and systems biology. Other parts treat proteomics and macromolecular structures (protein and RNA). Three-dimensional structure, structure databases (e.g., PDB), prediction of function from sequence and structure, and structure-based drug development are other examples.

The course requires that you have followed Bioinformatics Analyses I, but it is independent of Bioinformatics Analyses IIa (there is no overlap between IIa and IIb).