Phage Genomics. 3 credits

Catalog description

Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are the most abundant organisms in the biosphere. This course explores the genomes of mycobacteriophages (bacteriophages that infect mycobacteria) using bioinformatics tools. In this course, two mycobacteriophage genomes will be annotated and compared to other sequenced mycobacteriophage genomes. Bioinformatics tools will be used to learn more about bacteriophage protein function, immunity and genome structure. Each student in the course will formulate a comparative genomics question and use learned bioinformatics techniques to answer that question, The results of these experiments will be conveyed in the form of a research paper and oral presentation. This class is designed to give students the opportunity to actively participate in the process of scholarship and research in addition to learning valuable genomic and bioinformatics skills. Offered by Biology . Limited to three attempts.