Computing analysis and processing of biological data

Duration

25h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Patrick Meyer

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

Learning unit contents

In various fields of biology, the evolution of technology results in the production of large raw data sets. The course will consist of a hands-on discovery of computational and statistical tools suitable for the analysis of biological data sets.
Various concepts will be reviewed through exercices, from general concepts (vectors and matrices, correlation, equivalence testing) to the implementation of integrative analysis required by specific problems
Specifically, the course will focus on the use of the R language. The professor is a contributor of official R packages since 2008.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Reflexes and practical autonomy needed to address the processing and analysis of complex biological data sets with the R software, from multi source data loading to the summary statistics and results visualization. Ability to plan the different stages of a data analysis.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Students are encouraged to review the basics they have already acquired in the following areas: statistics and programming.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mini theoretical lectures and practical work on computer.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

This course is mainly practical during the lecture.

Recommended or required readings

Getting Started with R: An Introduction for Biologists (Oxford Biology 2012) by Andrew P. Beckerman and Owen L. Petchey

Assessment methods and criteria

Each student is evaluated through a practical exam, in the computer room with questions quite similar to the practical sessions. Typically a few theoretical questions are inserted in the exam. A list of names of functions (used during the practical sessions) will be made available to the student during the exam. However, all other sources of information (solved exercises, slides, written notes, books, internet,...) are forbidden.
It is a written exam (on computers) and it last four hours.
An individual project will impact the final score /20 (-1,0,+1). It will consist in solving a few practical exercises.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

All the courses will be given in the computer room of bldg B22 (Labo B, floor -1).

Contacts

Prof. Patrick Meyer Life Sciences Department
Bdg B22, room 3/03 Campus du Sart-Tilman  Chemin de la Vallée, 4 4000 Liège - Belgique
Tel: 04/366 3030 email:  patrick.meyer@ulg.ac.be(Patrick.Meyer@ulg.ac.be   )
Teaching Assistant:
Damien Sirjacobs ( d.sirjacobs@ulg.ac.be )