Bacterial Genomes: Accessing and Analysing Microbial Genome Data from FutureLearn

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course would benefit those interested in learning how to use tools to investigate bacterial genomes, and acquire bioinformatics skills to evaluate the role of microbial genes in disease. Using analytical tools to access and probe genomes, learners will find out how to perform comparative analyses of genes and their protein products. The course will be of interest to undergraduates, post-graduates, researchers, bioinformaticians, microbiologists, and healthcare professionals. The opportunity to use online computational tools to probe bacterial genomes will also be of interest to teachers and their 16-18-year-old science and computing students. Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function using Bioinformatics is a recommended pre-requisite. Scientific terminology is explained. You can use the hashtag #FLaccess2analysis to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Multi-FASTA files
Reference and draft bacterial genomes
Introduction to Artemis, an open source genome browser
Genome annotation
Genomic regions defined by GC (guanine-cytosine) content
Accessing and downloading whole genome sequences
Pathogenicity islands
Peer-reviewed project: Ecological niche adaptation between two
species
Pseudogenes in
species

Reviews summary

Bacterial genomes: accessing and analyzing microbial data

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in bacterial genome analysis, particularly highlighting the hands-on experience with practical tools like Artemis. Students frequently praise the clear explanations and structured approach, making complex bioinformatics concepts accessible. While many found it highly relevant and useful for their work or studies, a few reviewers noted that having a strong background in biology and bioinformatics is beneficial for keeping pace. The course content is considered comprehensive for an introduction, covering key areas like annotation and pathogenicity islands effectively. Overall, it is viewed as a valuable and well-presented course for those entering the field or needing practical skills.

Content is highly applicable to professional work/study.

"The knowledge and skills gained are directly applicable to my research in microbiology."

"Found the course content highly relevant to current work in infectious diseases."

"This course is incredibly useful for anyone working with microbial data; it filled gaps in my practical skills."

"The concepts covered have immediate utility in my academic projects."

Provides a strong introductory base for the subject.

"This course gave me a solid foundation in bacterial genomics analysis."

"It's an excellent starting point for anyone interested in microbial genome data."

"I feel much more confident approaching bacterial genome data after taking this course; it provided essential foundational knowledge."

"A great introduction that covers the necessary basics effectively."

Instructors provide clear and understandable explanations.

"The material was presented clearly and concisely, making it easy to follow complex topics."

"I found the explanations throughout the modules to be very clear and well-articulated."

"Instructors did a great job breaking down difficult concepts into manageable parts."

"The clarity of the lectures significantly helped my learning process."

Gain valuable hands-on experience with bioinformatics tools.

"The course provided me with excellent hands-on experience using practical tools to access and analyse bacterial genomes."

"Using Artemis was a highlight, allowing me to apply concepts directly to real data."

"I particularly valued the practical exercises and demos; they really solidified my understanding."

"The inclusion of real-world tools and data made the learning highly effective."

Prior knowledge in biology/bioinformatics is beneficial.

"While the course explains terminology, having some prior background in biology or genetics is really helpful."

"I recommend having completed the suggested prerequisite course or having a solid understanding of basic bioinformatics concepts."

"Some sections move quite quickly and might be challenging without previous exposure to the field."

Career center

Learners who complete Bacterial Genomes: Accessing and Analysing Microbial Genome Data will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: