Skills needed for Introduction
to Bioinformatics
Some prior knowledge is needed to complete the course successfully. The Net
Tutor can provide only minimal guidance in the very basic biological background
or in setting up your computer system for the course.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology • genome, DNA, RNA, base pairing • amino acids, polypeptides, proteins If many of them are sound strange to you, be prepared to spend some time
studying the basics as you find yourself needing the information during the
course. Any modern textbook of biochemistry, molecular biology or molecular
cell biology would be a sufficient reference work. Computer skills In addition, you should be able to download and install helper applications,
or have someone to help you do that.
Understanding the following concepts is needed for a full appreciation of
this course:
• genes, transcription, exons, introns, RNA splicing, mRNA
• translation, genetic code, codons, reading frames
• point mutation, deletion, insertion
• similarities and differences between amino acids
• abbreviations of the amino acids (you must have a source to look them
up)
• protein secondary structure, protein folding
For instance, Biochemistry by Berg, Tymoczko & Stryer (W.H. Freeman, 2002),
Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Part I, would cover what you need to know. An
on-line version is available.
You may also take a look at our
collection of background reading.
You should be familiar with:
• Internet browsers
• sending e-mail and attaching files to e-mail
• copying and pasting data from one application to another
• word processing to produce a final report of your project
• basic ideas of databases