Topic outline

  • General info for 2021

    * The details of the hybrid mode of teaching are subject to change but the current plan is described below. If some students cannot attend lectures that are arranged on campus (e.g. are located abroad and cannot travel to Finland), we will provide video lectures and/or other material so that it will be possible to pass the course regardless of your location. 

    Lectures: 

    • On Tuesdays 12:15-14:00 in T2 (except on Dec 7 in T3)
    • On Fridays 12:15-14:00 in AS2
    • First lecture: November 2, 2021


    Exercises: 

    • On Fridays 14:15-16:00 at A046
    • First exercise: November 5, 2021

    Lectures:

    • Harri Lähdesmäki, email: harri.lahdesmaki@aalto.fi
    • Essi Laajala, email: essi.laajala@aalto.fi

    Exercises:

    • Viivi Halla-aho, email: viivi.halla-aho@aalto.fi
    • Maria Osmala, email: maria.osmala@aalto.fi
    • Emma Turkulainen, email: emma.turkulainen@aalto.fi

    Learning outcome:

    The course provides you with basic understanding of high-throughput data and computational methods that are commonly used for analysing biological and biomedical problems. After the course you have skills to apply various computational methods in real biological problems and study the field further.

    Notes:

    The course is also accepted as a postgraduate course

    Preliminary syllabus:

    • Introduction, recap on hypothesis testing and multiple testing
    • High-throughput sequencing technology
    • Short sequencing read alignment
    • Genotype calling and de novo assembly 
    • Gene expression analysis using RNA-sequencing
    • Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing: protein-DNA interactions
    • Epigenetic data analysis: DNA methylation
    • Single-cell genomics
    • Receptor and antibody protein analysis
    • Metagenomics
    • Pathway and enrichment analysis

    Prerequisites: 

    • Basic knowledge of: probability, statistics, linear algebra, applied math 
    • Basic programming skills

    Requirements:

    • Exercises: Participation in the exercise sessions is recommended (but not mandatory) but you will need to submit written reports
    • One assignment project
    • Final examination

    Grading (tentative):

    • Exercises: 3 * 5 points, 15 points in total
    • Assignment project: 15 points
    • Exam: 30 points
    • Total: max. 60 points
    • Approx. 30 points required to pass the course
    • Approx. 50 points will give you the maximum grade 5/5

    List of materials:

    • Lecture notes
    • Material will be supplemented by scientific (review) articles

    Exam

    • Exam will be arranged in lecture hall T1 on Monday 20.12.2021 between 13:00-16:00.
    • You are NOT allowed to use any materials or devices (such lecture notes or calculator) in the exam. 
    • The second exam (in case you miss the first exam) will be arranged in lecture hall XX on Friday, 25.02.2021 between XX:00-XX:00.