2017-2018 / INFO2052-1

Introduction to Programming under Linux - Part A

Duration

30h Th, 30h Mon. WS

Number of credits

 Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology (120 ECTS)6 crédits 

Lecturer

Denis Baurain, Pierre Tocquin

Coordinator

Denis Baurain

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit 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
3. other Open Source technologies
  • Markdown / pandoc / LaTeX (XeTeX) / Zotero
  • version control with git
  • WWW programming (HTML/CSS/JS/PHP)

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

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
Dr. Pierre Tocquin Institut de Botanique B22 (P70) ptocquin@ulg.ac.be
Assistant: Dr. Damien Sirjacobs Institut de Botanique B22 (P70) 04/366.38.54 D.Sirjacobs@ulg.ac.be