Course Title: Bioinformatics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Bioinformatics

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL2034

City Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

BIOL2034

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

BIOL2254

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

BIOL2254

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Jessica Holien

Course Coordinator Phone: +61399257256

Course Coordinator Email: jessica.holien@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.01.002

Course Coordinator Availability: By email Appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge

Some knowledge of genetics or molecular biology is advantageous.


Course Description

Bioinformatics is the computational management and use of biological information to solve biological problems. This course will deliver descriptions of this rapidly evolving field and will facilitate user access to biological data. Topics will include descriptions of genetic and biological databases and relevant tools available to retrieve and analyse the information within these. Descriptions of various sequencing techniques and the resulting analysis, protein structure/function and computational drug discovery will be given. RMIT staff scientists working in the field will deliver topics. This course is designed to enable you to get a taste of the current bioinformatic techniques used in academia and industry.

This is a fully online course where an online computer tutorial program will accompany the lectorials.

Students are also expected to develop an integrated understanding of subject matter, demonstrate advanced judgement in the selection of materials used to support discussions and comprehensively review data analysis results in order to provide relevant, succinct interpretations of any findings.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes in MC111 Master of Biotechnology: 

PLO 1: Understanding Science 

1.1 You will demonstrate an advanced understanding of biological sciences by articulating the methods of science, explaining why current biological knowledge is both contestable and testable through further inquiry, and explaining the role and relevance of biotechnology in society.

1.2 You will have an understanding of recent developments in a specialised area of biotechnology 

PLO2: Advanced skills to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology. 

2.1 You will demonstrate cognitive skills in mastery of advanced theoretical knowledge in biotechnology and apply this knowledge to solve complex problems in existing and new areas. 

PLO 5: Personal and professional responsibility. 

5.1 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by being an independent and self-directed learner.

5.2 You will work effectively, responsibly, ethically, and safely in an individual or team context.

5.3 You will demonstrate knowledge of the regulatory frameworks and ethical principles relevant to biotechnology.

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes in BP226 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)

PLO 1: Understanding science

1.1. You will demonstrate a coherent understanding of biological sciences by articulating the methods of science and explaining why current biological knowledge is both contestable and testable through further inquiry.

1.2. You will demonstrate a coherent understanding of biological sciences by explaining the role and relevance of biological sciences in society.

PLO 2: Advanced skills to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology:

2.1 You will demonstrate cognitive skills in mastery of advanced theoretical knowledge in biotechnology and apply this knowledge to solve complex problems in existing and new areas.

2.2 You will generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level.

PLO 3: Application of knowledge and skills.

3.1. You will exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge by demonstrating a well-developed understanding of biological sciences.

3.2. You will exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge by demonstrating that biotechnology has interdisciplinary connections with other sciences.

3.3. You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by gathering, synthesizing and critically evaluating information from a range of sources.

3.5. You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical techniques with technical competence in conducting field, laboratory-based, or virtual experiments.

3.6. You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by collecting, accurately recording, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from scientific data.

PLO 4: Communication

4.1. You will be an effective communicator of biological sciences by effectively communicating scientific results, information, or arguments using a range of modes (oral, written, visual) for a variety of purposes and audiences.

PLO 5: Personal and professional responsibility

5.1. You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work in biotechnology by being an independent and self-directed learner.

5.2. You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by working effectively, responsibly, ethically, and safely in an individual or team context.

5.3. You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory frameworks and ethical principles relevant to biotechnology.


Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Explain the basic principles that underpin Bioinformatics analyses, and apply these principles when analysing biological data;
  2. Analyse biological data using a variety of Bioinformatics tools; and
  3. Interpret correctly the outputs from tools used to analyse biological data and make meaningful predictions from these outputs.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You will be presented with a series of lectorials that illustrate both fundamental principles of Bioinformatics and the applications of these principles in particular areas. Experts in such fields will present these lectorials. A set of online computer tutorials will accompany the lectorials.

Learning will be facilitated by:

  1. your attendance at lectorials where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  2. completion of computer tutorials designed to give you further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on your progress and understanding;
  3. completion of assignments requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
  4. private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual problems.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks 

Assessment task 1: Tutorial Reports
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, and 3

Assessment task 2: Multiple Choice
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

Assessment task 3: Final Practical
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 and 3

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.