Study Programmes 2015-2016
INFO2053-1  
Introduction to Programming under Linux - Part B
Duration :
10h Th, 30h Mon. WS
Number of credits :
Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology (120 ECTS)4
Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Denis Baurain
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
1. Linux
  • UNIX environment (Bio-Linux)
  • text files and file formats
  • CLI features (jokers, variables, loops, history...)
  • bash shell
2. Perl
  • Perl basics and Modern Perl
  • Perl Object-Oriented Programming using Moose
  • Perl for Bioinformatics (Bioperl, Ensembl Perl API)
3. other Open Source technologies
  • LaTeX (XeTeX) and co
  • WWW programming (HTML/CSS and PHP)
Learning outcomes of the course :
This course is the first of three courses -- "Introduction to linux programming" [INFO0097-2], "Introduction to databases for biology" [INFO0099-2], "Introduction to algorithms in bioinformatics" [INFO0094-3] -- taught by the same teacher in the context of the specialized approach in bioinformatics of M2-BBMC. The course "Introduction to biological data analysis" [INFO0115-2] by Prof. Patrick Meyer shares the same goals. At the end of this series of courses, students will be able to use the computer as a scientific instrument. More specifically, they will have been trained towards the following objectives: 1. Experimental design
  • how to choose appropriate controls
  • how to think in a statistical framework
2. Conducting experiments
  • how to run large series of analyzes
  • how to harness the power of grid computing
3. Interpretation of results
  • how to automate the analysis of output files
  • how to generate informative but nice looking graphs
  • how to draw statistically sound conclusions
4. Documentation and archiving
  • how to document experimental protocols
  • how to reorganize a series of past analyzes
  • how to manage multiple versions of the data sets, of the required programs and of the generated results
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
This course is part of a specialized approach in bioinformatics. Even if it requires no special knowledge in computer science, it is nevertheless based on the Genomics [GENE0003-1] and Bioinformatics [BIOL0008-1] courses of the M1-BBMC.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
  • brief theoretical lectures
  • challenges to solve
  • computer practicals
  • self-learning (textbooks and online tutorials)
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
This course is partly face-to-face but as a problem-oriented course, it will require that students work also outside of the classroom.
Recommended or required readings :
Assessment methods and criteria :
Course assessment will be based on both the work carried out during the academic year and the development of a personal project, in principle distinct from the Master's thesis.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Taking notes on a laptop or tablet is allowed. However, students are expected not to surf or chat in the classroom.
Contacts :
Prof. Denis Baurain Institut de Botanique B22 (P70) denis.baurain@ulg.ac.be
Assistant: Dr. Damien Sirjacobs Institut de Botanique B22 (P70) 04/366.38.54 D.Sirjacobs@ulg.ac.be