Summer 2007 Bioinformatics Workshops
Sponsored by the Health Sciences Library

In early August, the Health Sciences Library is pleased to sponsor the 4 course offerings below from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

• NCBI Workshop 1: Entrez QuickStart                Workshop Handout 
  When: Wednesday, 8/1/07 9am-Noon
  Location: Biogen Idec Classroom (307 HSL) AND Online via Adobe Connect
  Class Capacity: 30 each for classroom and Adobe Connect option
  Workshop Content:
  
  This mini-course will provide tips on effective searching in Entrez databases and accessing the records in various formats. Entrez is the integrated, text-based search and retrieval system used at NCBI for the major databases, including PubMed, Nucleotide and Protein Sequences, Expression, PubChem (biological activities of small molecules), Protein Structures, Complete Genomes, Taxonomy, and others. Entrez provides links to related records within the database and between other databases in Entrez. Click here for a more detailed view that illustrates the links existing among various Entrez Databases.


• NCBI Workshop 2: Entrez Gene Quickstart                Workshop Handout 
  When: Wednesday, 8/1/07 2-5pm
  Location: Biogen Idec Classroom (307 HSL) AND Online via Adobe Connect
  Class Capacity: 30 each for classroom and Adobe Connect option
  Workshop Content:
  
  In this mini-course, we will learn how to obtain information about a human gene such as its mRNA and genomic sequence, gene structure (exon-intron locations), function and phenotypes associated with mutations. We will also learn how to determine whether the SNPs in the coding region of a gene are known to alter the function of the protein product.
  
  
• NCBI Workshop 3: Genbank QuickStart                Workshop Handout 
  When: Thursday 8/2/07 9am-Noon
  Location: Biogen Idec Classroom (307 HSL) AND Online via Adobe Connect
  Class Capacity: 30 each for classroom and Adobe Connect option
  Workshop Content:
  
  GenBank is a repository of nucleotide sequences from about 160,000 organisms. This mini-course begins with a survey of different types of entries. Using a typical GenBank entry as a model, students will learn to understand the features annotated on it. The course will also cover how to submit sequences to GenBank and include an overview of the processing of the entries. Finally, students will learn how to efficiently search GenBank and download sequences.


• NCBI Workshop 4: Microbial Genomes QuickStart                Workshop Handout 
  When: Thursday 9/2/07 2-5pm
  Location: Biogen Idec Classroom (307 HSL) AND Online via Adobe Connect
  Class Capacity: 30 each for classroom and Adobe Connect option
  Workshop Content:
  
  In this mini-course, you will learn how to access the microbial genome sequences and annotations, how to navigate through and download the gene and protein datasets, and will be introduced to the available genomic and comparative genomic analysis tools. The course will address practical discovery questions such as 'Are there identifiable genes in microbial genomes that may be horizontally transferred?' and 'What are the differences between closely-related pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria?'