The course comprises theory and practical laboratory work. During the course, knowledge in biology, mathematics and programming is combined in order to provide skills in the use of the most common bioinformatics tools and as well as biological databases. Since the knowledge generated by modern bioinformatics methods gives rise to ethical issues, those too are discussed during this course. The introductory part of the course focuses on the use of various public databases, database organization, sequence retrieval and management, such as comparisons of protein sequences in order to find sequence similarities between proteins from different organisms. This part also includes so-called High Throughput sequencing methods, gene mapping projects and phylogenetic reconstruction. Then follows an introduction on how to handle and integrate biological information, such as gene regulation and network analysis, which are important methods for the understanding of changes in gene expression in a systems biology way. Furthermore, peptide sequences are analyzed by using chemometrics and multivariate data analysis methods in order to provide an understanding of the complex structural properties of biological molecules. The course continues with an examination of protein sequences with respect to functional and structural 3D motives and the affect mutations have on protein stability and function. The aim is to enhance the understanding of the complex structural features of biological macromolecules which can then be applied to computer-based drug design. Finally, we develop the theory and discuss practical methods for creating three-dimensional protein structures by so-called homology modeling methods, which are an important complement to experimental structure determination methods.
The information below is only for exchange students
Starts
2 May 2025
Ends
8 June 2025
Study location
Umeå
Language
English
Type of studies
Daytime,
100%
Required Knowledge
20 ECTS from completed courses in Chemistry, with a minimum of 5 ECTS in Biochemistry, or alternatively, 20 ECTS from a combination of completed courses in Chemistry and Physics and/or Mathematics, with a minimum of 5 ECTS in Biochemistry; 35 ECTS from completed courses in Biology, containing at least 15 ECTS in Cell and Molecular Biology, and at least 5 ECTS in each of Molecular Genetics and Structural Biology; 5 ECTS in Computer Programming using languages such as Python or Perl; 5 ECTS in Multivariate Data Analysis.
Selection
Students applying for courses within a double degree exchange agreement, within the departments own agreements will be given first priority. Then will - in turn - candidates within the departments own agreements, faculty agreements, central exchange agreements and other departmental agreements be selected.
Application code
UMU-A5159
Application
This application round is only intended for nominated exchange students. Information about deadlines can be found in the e-mail instruction that nominated students receive.
The application period is closed.
