Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y N
Course Code BIOC3605
Date2023/09/24 21:56
Enquiry for Course Details
BIOC3605 Sequence bioinformatics (6 credits) Academic Year 2023
Offering Department Biomedical Sciences Quota 80
Course Co-ordinator Dr B C W Wong, Biomedical Sciences < bcwwong@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr B C W Wong,Biomedical Sciences)
(Dr. AB Kinghorn,Biomedical Sciences)
Course Objectives This course will examine existing bioinformatics tools for DNA and protein sequence analysis. The
underlying principles of these analysis programs and services will be presented. Students will learn how to retrieve, analyze, and compare protein and DNA sequences using bioinformatics tools available on the internet. A basic introduction to the principles and tools for the analysis of next generation sequencing data will also be presented.
Course Contents & Topics This course will introduce and discuss the following topics:

DNA and protein sequence database, protein family databases; information searching and retrieval; Simple sequence analysis; sequence alignment: pair-wise alignment, multiple sequence alignment, substitution matrices; sequence database searching: algorithm and parameters; sequence patterns and motifs, and profiles; phylogenetic analysis; gene prediction; analysis of next generation sequencing data
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 search and retrieve sequence data from biological databases
CLO 2 describe the algorithms of commonly used methods for pairwise and multiple alignments, BLAST database search, phylogenetic trees construction, and gene prediction
CLO 3 apply the techniques of sequence analysis in various biological context
CLO 4 interpret results from sequence alignments, BLAST database searches, and phylogenetic trees construction
CLO 5 carry out basic analysis of next generation sequencing data
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in BIOC2600 or BIOL2220 or BBMS2003 or BBMS2007 or MEDE2301 or BMED2301
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2023 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2019 Major in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2019 Minor in Biochemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2023 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2022 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2021 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2020 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,5 >
2019 Major in Biochemistry < PLO 1,2,3,4,5 >
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y        2nd sem    Examination May     
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrates thorough and complete mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes; strong critical thinking; excellent ability to apply bioinformatics skills in a range of context.
B Demonstrates substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes; evidence of critical thinking; good ability to apply bioinformatics skills in a range of context.
C Demonstrates general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcome; some critical thinking; adequate ability to apply bioinformatics skills in a range of context.
D Demonstrates partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes; limited critical thinking; limited ability to apply bioinformatics skills in a range of context.
Fail Demonstrates little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes; lack of critical thinking; little or no ability to apply bioinformatics skills in a range of context.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 100
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 40 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Examination 50 CLO 2,3,4
Test Quiz 10 CLO 2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Higgs, P.G. & Attwood, T.K., 2005. Bioinformatics and molecular evolution, Malden, MA ; Oxford: Blackwell.
Mount, D.W., 2004. Bioinformatics : sequence and genome analysis 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information NIL
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