Module manager: Glenn McConkey
Email: G.A.McConkey@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
A level Biology
BLGY2201
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module will introduce you to the fundamental concepts and techniques of bioinformatics, with a focus on applications relevant to biological research. This module will develop students’ skills to search and query publicly available biological databases of genome, sequence, structure, physical mapping and bibliographic, extract data and analyse and display results using appropriate software. Web accessible resources are used to ensure maximum transferability of the knowledge gained. The objective is to teach how to use available bioinformatic resources.
This module aims to introduce students to the basic concepts of bioinformatics and illustrate the application of bioinformatics to many biological questions. The objective is to teach you how to use available bioinformatic resources to answer key biological questions. The module shows how genomic data is stored and accessed to learn about any characterised gene or protein and how it links to resources on research. The approaches to modern phylogenetics are introduced and how bioinformatics is applied to drug discovery.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1) Identify and use appropriate publicly available biological databases of genome, sequence, structure, physical mapping and bibliographic information for gene and protein delineation.
2) perform searches and queries of relevant databases and extract data from these different databases
3) analyse and interpret bioinformatic data and display results using appropriate software.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4) Apply problem-solving skills to digital processes and online workflows.
- Query and extraction of protein sequences and structures from major databases.
- Homology and conserved feature-based searching and interpretation of the results.
- Prediction and analysis of gene elements including coding and regulatory regions and prediction of secondary structures.
- Sequence alignment, identification of conserved residues and motifs. Phylogenetic analysis and tree analysis.
- Contig assembly and map location.
- Tissue-specific expression using EST databases and PCR primer design.
- Bibliographic searching of Medline (Pubmed).
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Practical | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 60 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Five formative assignment exercises (every week of class) based on Practical skills and learning from lectures. Individual feedback is provided. These are based on Computer-based Practical exercises linked to the lecture topic for that week. Individual exercise answers are checked for accuracy and guidance provided on how to improve. The skill set checked directly feeds into the Summative problem-set assignment.
Informal feedback is provided individually during Practical sessions.
Formative feedback from problems answered in Practicals will provide clarity on expectations for the Summative Assignment.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Summative problem set that applies skills gained in Practicals | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 05/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team