Comparing Genes, Proteins, and Genomes (Bioinformatics III) Coursera

Overview

Once we have sequenced genomes in the previous course, we would like to compare them to determine how species have evolved and what makes them different.

In the first half of the Comparing Genes, Proteins, and Genomes (Bioinformatics III) offered by Coursera in partnership with UC San Diego, we will compare two short biological sequences, such as genes (i.e., short sequences of DNA) or proteins.

Key facts

• We will encounter a powerful algorithmic tool called dynamic programming that will help us determine the number of mutations that have separated the two genes/proteins.

• In the second half of the course, we will "zoom out" to compare entire genomes, where we see large scale mutations called genome rearrangements, seismic events that have heaved around large blocks of DNA over millions of years of evolution.  

• Looking at the human and mouse genomes, we will ask ourselves: just as earthquakes are much more likely to occur along fault lines, are there locations in our genome that are "fragile" and more susceptible to be broken as part of genome rearrangements?  We will see how combinatorial algorithms will help us answer this question.

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