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Computational Molecular Biology, aka Algorithms for Computational Biology

Home * Syllabus * Course Information * Lecturers,TAs, office hours * Collaboration Policy * Programming Help

Times and Places

Classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2:30pm - 4pm.

Mondays and Wednesdays - Earth & Planetary Sciences, Room 203, Danforth Campus

Fridays - 4444 Forest Park Blvd, Room 5206, Med School Campus

Directions

Prerequisites

The only prerequisites are some programming experience, an appetite for mathematics and some previous exposure, and preferably basic knowledge of molecular biology. If your background is in any of these is minimal, you will be challenged. If your background is weak in more than one of these three areas, you may want to reconsider taking the course.

This course is intended to serve all highly motivated students, including advanced undergraduates. However, it is a graduate course, so I expect you will relish the challenges. I'm here to help and guide.

Goals

The goal is to provide you with all the theoretical background you need to understand the methods used in biological sequence analysis and the difficulties surrounding them. Your part is to work hard and learn a lot of everything else is secondary.

Readings

See Readings & Resources.

Assignments

Homework is assigned approximately every week. I suggest that you read the assignments right away, so you are prepared to get what you need from the lectures. Homeworks will involve programming in C and/or paper-and-pencil work.

For turning in programs and output, please follow the instructions here. All other homework problems should be turned in on paper at the beginning of the section, Wednesday at 3PM. Since we will go over the problems that same day, late assignments will not be accepted. Start early in case of unexpected troubles. Don't say I didn't warn you.

There will be no quizzes or exams.

Grading for the course

Grading will be based on the scores you get on the homework assignments. The grading system is a subjective combination of absolute and relative. A typical grade distribution is about 40% A (including +/-), 40% B, 20% lower than B, but this is not a rigid formula. If you want to know how you are doing, feel free to ask. I can give you a current reading from time to time.

Teaming up

Homeworks and labs must be done individually (see Collaboration Policy).