Handbook

This subject will be divided into three strands of approximately equal length: (i) Bioinformatics, (ii) Biological macromolecules (proteins and nucleic acids) - structure and function, and (iii) Proteomics. In the practical classes, bioinformatics will be explored in computer-based tutorials and practicals. Databases for nucleic acid and protein sequences, structures and other parameters of biological molecules, plus linkages to the scientific literature, will be used to extract information and to compare and analyse these data. Proteomics and protein and nucleic acid structure will also be investigated via computer-based practicals. In the laboratory, the structure/function aspects of the protein, lysozyme, will be analysed. Each student will prepare a literature review or research paper on a relevant aspect of bioinformatics.