Molecular Systems Biology

Nowadays increasing numbers of complete genomic sequences are available and methods have been developed to study system wide gene expression, protein interaction and metabolite formation. Systems biology integrates the results of the different omics techniques in order to understand how they work together by using special analysis and visualization techniques to extract relevant information for elucidating the function of genes, proteins and metabolites, to signify interactions between these molecules and to study the underlying regulatory mechanisms. The course is modular and focuses on data generation, mining, analysis and data integration and visualization.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• explain variation control and experimental design used in the generation of omics datasets;
• apply relevant univariate and multivariate statistical methods for analysis of omics data;
• compare these statistical methods with each other and explain which method is applied for which type of biological question;
• interpret mass spectrometry datasets of proteins;
• construct, enhance and mine biological networks of molecular interactions from omics data;
• analyse network topology using precise mathematical definitions, R and Cytoscape;
• construct protein classes based upon network properties;
• evaluate 'omics' information with respect to the biological questions.

Written report on assignment (20%), + written exam (80%) with open and closed questions with closed book. Minimum Mark for assignment: 5.00; Minimum Mark for written exam: 5.00.

Assumed Knowledge:
The course intake accepts students with a biological background. Preferably the student will have some experience with bioinformatics tools and statistics; the courses Bioinformation Technology (SSB-20306) and Advanced statistics (MAT-20306) are highly recommended.

https://wur.osiris-student.nl/onderwijscatalogus/extern/cursus?cursusid=816930&taal=en