Syllabus for GEN220: High Throughput Biological Data Processing
This course focuses on computational skills for processing data using programming language Python and UNIX environment. No prior programming experience is required, but some basic computer skills will be useful.
With the advancement of high throughput data generation methods, a major challenge that graduate students in life sciences have to face today is to analyze large amount of biological data. The objective of this course is to provide an opportunity for graduate students with no computer science background to learn the basic skills of handling high throughput biological data. It covers the Linux/Unix environment and the importance of the command line interface; the Python programming language; program design, implementation, and testing; BioPython; Strategies for analyzing genome resequencing, RNASeq, and microbiome sequencing data. Students build hands-on skills by analyzing real high throughput biological data through homework assignments and team projects.
Units: 3
Instructor: Jason Stajich (jason.stajich@ucr.edu)
Time and location: T/T 1-3PM Boyce Hall 1467
Office Hours: Wed 9-10 and best by appointment.
https://biodataprog.github.io/GEN220_2025/
None of these texts are required for completion of the course but they will provide a great deal of helpful background and examples that will improve your ability to master UNIX or Programming in Python.
Bioinformatics Data Skills: Reproducible and Robust Research with Open Source Tools. Vince Buffalo. 2015 O’Reilly & Associates. Available from O’Reilly and Associates, Amazon Free to read on UCR network (or use VPN) - Safari link.
Unix and Perl to the Rescue: A Primer. Keith Bradnam and Ian Korf. Unix and Perl Primer for Biologists
Unix and Perl to the rescue! Bradnam and Korf. Amazon
Rosalind - An online platform to learn bioinformatics and programming in Python.
Software Carpentry - https://software-carpentry.org/ and Data Carpentry - http://www.datacarpentry.org/.
Berk Ekmekci, Charles E. McAnany, Cameron Mura. An Introduction to Programming for Bioscientists: A Python-Based Primer. PLoS Comp Bio. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004867
Ken Youens-Clark. Tiny Python Projects. https://www.manning.com/books/tiny-python-projects
Pat Schloss’s Riffomonas Code Club has great videos and links to programming and microbiome analyses.
Homework is due before class on the date listed in the syllabus or if amended when assignment is given.
There will be a programming assignment every two weeks during the first half of the course. Programming assignments must be prepared along with any necessary input files or documentation to demonstrate program usage.
Code should be runnable as turned in. You will deposit your code in your github repository or if not possible, by Canvas. You can make one private personal repository to deposit and should organize a folder for each homework assignment (e.g. hw1, hw2, hw3, hw4, hw5). There will be a link to create these through GitHub Classroom and posted in Canvas.
Because this course takes place online and requires use of a computer, you will need the following:
Access to a current Mac or PC (with a fast processor and speakers) Webcam and microphone (to participate in any video components, e.g. live sessions, remote proctoring, video presentations) Software
Project Topics will be discussed in October and teams will select a project idea to focus on.
Project will be 2-3 individuals working together.
A presentation will be made by each team - last day(s) of class.
A final report with the details will be turned in by the group.
The report needs to detail what each person’s contribution is to the project.
| Date | Day | Lecture Topic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept-25 | Th | Course Intro / UNIX I: Cmdline, GitHub | |
| Sept-30 | Tu | UNIX II: Biocluster HPCC, Running programs | Homework 0 Due |
| Oct-2 | Th | UNIX III: Tools for data processing | |
| Oct-7 | Tu | Python I: Variables, running, cmdline, strings, math | Homework 1 Due |
| Oct-9 | Th | Python II - Logic, loops, lists, iterator; I/O reading/writing files | |
| Oct-14 | Tu | Python III - Pandas and Dictionaries | |
| Oct-16 | Th | Python IV - Functions, modules, BioPython | Homework 2 Due |
| Oct-21 | Tu | Python V - Regular Expressions | |
| Oct-23 | Th | Python Data / Bioinformatics I. Class Project Info | |
| Oct-28 | Tu | Alignment and Bioinformatics Algorithms; BLAST cmdline & automation | Homework 3 Due |
| Oct-30 | Th | Cluster HPC, NextFlow. | Class Project Outline/Abstract due |
| Nov-4 | Tu | TBD | (Stajich away) |
| Nov-6 | Th | Bioinformatics II - RNASeq analyses | |
| Nov-11 | Tu | No Class - holiday | |
| Nov-13 | Th | Bioinformatics III - SNPs and variants | Homework 4 Due |
| Nov-18 | Tu | Bioinformatics IV - Protein Sequence analyses (HMMER, InterPro, SignalP) | |
| Nov-20 | Th | Bioinformatics V - Orthology, Phylogenetics, pipeline | |
| Nov-25 | Tu | Bioinformatics VI - AlphaFold | Homework 5 Due |
| Nov-27 | Th | ** NO CLASS ** | |
| Dec-2 | Tu | Genome and Statistical Data visualizations | Extra Topics |
| Dec-4 | Th | Class Presentations | |
| Dec-10 | Wed | Final papers due |
*note these dates and topics may changes if illness or conflict arises. Class will also vote to emphasize special topics towards the end of quarter.