BIOLOGY 722
ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Computational Biology: the discipline wherein computers are used to study living systems.

NOTE: this document contains a description for the group-project component in BIOLOGY 722; the official course description is contained in the 2003-2004 School of Graduate Studies Calendar.

A phenotype may be considered conceptually (or pragmatically) as the intersection (or interactions) among a genotype, developmental and physiological processes, an environment, and an evolutionary history. Thus, thoroughly comprehending a phenotype requires a multidisciplinary approach. A powerful means to combine multiple disciplines involves constructing an analytical model.

This course provides an opportunity for students and faculty from a variety of disciplines to interact. A phenotype will be analysed from multiple biological perspectives, and the results will be synthesised in a computational model. Different biological perspectives will be determined by course participants, each among whom will contribute expertise in a particular subject (as a component to the multidisciplinary (intersection or) interaction). The course will culminate with a multiauthored manuscript that is suitable for publication.

Participants who are inclined to seize this course as opportunity to refine tools, master techniques, and hone skills that are used in computational biology research are invited to contact the course organisers to obtain information about VOLUNTARY, informal sessions that could be offerred during the autumn (depending on interest); these sessions will provide background and training relevant to the computational 'expertise' that will be used to construct the computational model.

Paricipants' interests, preferences, and desires will be considered in determining course content, format, and evaluation.

A document containing Dick Morton's tour de force presentation concerning homeobox genes and the role that they play in Drosophilid (perhaps Dipteran) and Lepidopteran wing development and evolution may be viewed by mouseclicking this link.

A description for the reading week exercise may be viewed by mouseclicking this link.

A description for the final manuscript may be viewed by mouseclicking this link.

To obtain additional information, please feel welcome to contact course organisers Dave Rollo or Jon Stone via email: rollocd@mcmail.mcmaster.ca or jstoner@mcmaster.ca.

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