BIOS3011 – Bioinformatics in teams
Course content
Today's molecular biology methods produce amounts of data that require specialized computational tools in order to be understood and analyzed. These tools make it possible to tackle problems in the life sciences that until recently were considered unsolvable. In this course, you will learn about central topics, theories, and tools in bioinformatics. You will work in problem-based groups to develop code for analyzing and interpreting biological sequences.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you
- Can collaborate on code development in groups using tools and methods for version control and code sharing
- Can explain and discuss your own and others’ bioinformatics code
- Can align and analyse nucleotide and amino acid sequences to provide basic functional and evolutionary information
- Can explain the theoretical and statistical principles underlying biological sequence analysis and common algorithms in bioinformatics
- Can use programming to implement basic algorithms and tools relevant to bioinformatics
- Can set up bioinformatics workflows (pipelines) of limited scope using workflow management systems
- Can perform basic analyses of and interpret datasets from high-throughput sequencing technologies
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Priority will be given to students in the bachelor program in Biosciences.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
A background in elementary?programming, equivalent to the content of BIOS1100 – Introduction to computational models for Biosciences (discontinued).
Recommended previous knowledge
BIOS1110 – Celle- og molekyl?rbiologi og STK1000 – Introduction to Applied Statistics
Teaching
- Lectures with live-coding
- Organized group tutorials with TA per week (mandatory for the first two weeks)
- Independent tutorials with mandatory assignments?where TA is available (mandatory for the first two weeks)?
Mandatory course work must be approved to sit the exam.?
Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture, also for those on the waiting list. If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you will lose your seat on the course if you have not informed the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no prior to the first lecture.
Access to teaching: A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The final grade is determined based on a point system (0-100 points), which summarizes results from the midterm exam, mandatory assignments, and the final oral exam (group presentation).
- Two group assignments (pass/fail). For each of the two assignments, group members are awarded 5 points if the group submits an approved assignment by the deadline. Total: 10 points.
- Midterm exam (written school exam) gives up to 50 points.
- Final oral exam is a group presentation and gives up to 40 points (30 points as a group, 10 points individually).
Examination support material
Calculator (Inspera)
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.