Bioinformatics

Proposed work

• Understand the basics of bioinformatics and gain a general understanding of the discipline. We will each explore one particular area in-depth as an independent project.
• Topics will include: Programming basics (PERL and R), DNA sequences and strings, simulation of DNA mutations and other molecular events, databases (GenBank, Protein Data Bank, BLAST), among others.

Compliments academic program

• Erika has found over two summers of research that a general understanding of bioinformatics will come in very handy down the road. Through biology courses at Earlham we have briefly skimmed certain aspects of bioinformatics but not at a level that can be attained through in-depth study as we propose to do with this independent study.
• another item (Damian)
• Charlie is interested in learning more about bioinformatics generally and to see if a lab can be built out of more basic material for the introduction to modeling class.

Evaluation

• We will create a wiki page (wiki.cs.earlham.edu) and update it throughout the course with summaries of the material we have studied together as well as the independent directions we will pursue with each topic.
• We will each pursue an independent topic throughout the semester which will culminate at the end of the semester with a paper and colloquium presentation to the department.