BIOS 1513 - SEA-PHAGES Viral Genomics-Bioinformatics

4.5 Credits

Students participate in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) undergraduate research program SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science). Students annotate selected bacteriophage genomes, which were isolated from soil samples in BIOS 1512. in addition, students will examine the phage genomes to identify shared and unique gene functions between the phage they are studying and other similar phages.

Recommended: BIOS 1512

Lecture Hours: 3.0
Lab Hours: 4.5
Internship Hours: 0.0
Clinical or Practicum Hours: 0.0

Course Objectives

Apply phage genome and bioinformatic basics to annotate the genome.
Run and generate computational data through applicable software programs.
Collaborate as a team of students to complete the phage genome annotation of at least two, fully sequenced phages.
Keep an accurate, organized record of annotated genomes that can be easily interpreted by other scientists.
Validate annotated genomes with the Quality Control Checks process, using internal and external reviewers.
Compare and contrast similar phage genome characteristics in the database.
Perform comparative genomics, using an array of bioinformatic analysis tools to investigate the functions of phage genes.
Submit annotated genomes initially to PhagesDB and subsequently to GenBank.
Develop a poster that can be used for a presentation.
Develop scientific communication, networking and career skills.

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