Overview
You may have heard a lot about genome sequencing and its potential to usher in an era of personalized medicine, but what does it mean to sequence a genome?
Biologists still cannot read the nucleotides of an entire genome as you would read a book from beginning to end. However, they can read short pieces of DNA. In this course, we will see how graph theory can be used to assemble genomes from these short pieces. We will further learn about brute force algorithms and apply them to sequencing mini-proteins called antibiotics.
In the first half of the Genome Sequencing (Bioinformatics II) offered by Coursera in partnership with UC San Diego, we will see that biologists cannot read the 3 billion nucleotides of a human genome as you would read a book from beginning to end. However, they can read shorter fragments of DNA. In this course, we will see how graph theory can be used to assemble genomes from these short pieces in what amounts to the largest jigsaw puzzle ever put together.
In the second half of the course, we will discuss antibiotics, a topic of great relevance as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria like MRSA are on the rise. You know antibiotics as drugs, but on the molecular level they are short mini-proteins that have been engineered by bacteria to kill their enemies. Determining the sequence of amino acids making up one of these antibiotics is an important research problem, and one that is similar to that of sequencing a genome by assembling tiny fragments of DNA. We will see how brute force algorithms that try every possible solution are able to identify naturally occurring antibiotics so that they can be synthesized in a lab.
Finally, you will learn how to apply popular bioinformatics software tools to sequence the genome of a deadly Staphylococcus bacterium that has acquired antibiotics resistance.
Skills You Will Gain
- Algorithms
- Python Programming
- Whole Genome Sequencing
- Dynamic Programming
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Visit programme websiteProgramme Structure
Courses include:
- Genome Sequencing
- Applying Euler's Theorem to Assemble Genomes
- Sequencing Antibiotics
- From Ideal to Real Spectra for Antibiotics Sequencing
- Bioinformatics Application Challenge!
Check out the full curriculum
Visit programme websiteKey information
Duration
- Part-time
- 1 days
Start dates & application deadlines
Language
Delivered
Disciplines
Bioinformatics & Biostatistics View 16 other Short Courses in Bioinformatics & Biostatistics in United StatesExplore more key information
Visit programme websiteAcademic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Other requirements
General requirements
- Intermediate level
- Some related experience required
Make sure you meet all requirements
Visit programme websiteTuition Fee
-
International
FreeTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 0 USD for the full programme during 1 days. -
National
FreeTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 0 USD for the full programme during 1 days.
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Funding
Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project.