Bacterial Genomes: Comparative Genomics using Artemis Comparison Tool (ACT) 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 and research bacterial genomes, and acquire bioinformatics skills to evaluate the role of microbial genes in disease. Learners will gain experience in comparative genomics, using the Artemis Comparison Tool to probe, visualise and compare genomes, and analyse the results. This course will be of interest to anyone interested in microbiology, including undergraduates, post-graduates, biomedical researchers, microbiologists, bioinformaticians, teachers, and healthcare professionals. The opportunity to gain experience in using the Artemis Comparison Tool, a computational tool designed for comparative genomics, will also be of interest to all those who have studied our pre-requisite courses: those with an interest in genomics and disease outbreaks, teachers and their 16-18-year-old science and computing students. Ideally, you will have completed Bacterial Genomes: From DNA to Protein Function Using Bioinformatics and Bacterial Genomes: Accessing and Analysing Microbial Genome Data before joining the course. You can use the hashtag #FLartemis2act to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Introduction to comparative genomics
Introduction to ACT
Analyse available data
Generate your own comparison files
Make your own comparisons in ACT
Identify pseudogenes in
using ACT
Peer review project: Comparative genomics on two clinically relevant plasmids from

Reviews summary

Comparative genomics with artemis act

According to learners, this course offers a positive:practical introduction to neutral:comparative genomics using the positive:Artemis Comparison Tool (ACT). Students seeking to positive:acquire bioinformatics skills for investigating bacterial genomes will find the content positive:highly relevant, especially for evaluating microbial gene roles in disease. However, prospective learners are strongly advised to meet the warning:prerequisite courses as the material quickly advances beyond introductory concepts, potentially causing difficulty for those without the necessary foundational knowledge.

Best suited for those with a strong background.

"This course is clearly designed for researchers and professionals, not absolute beginners in genomics."

"As a bioinformatician, I found the depth appropriate for advancing my comparative genomics skills."

"While it starts with an introduction, it quickly assumes a level of prior knowledge common among post-graduates or biomedical researchers."

Develops applicable bioinformatics skills for research.

"I learned practical bioinformatics skills for investigating bacterial genomes and understanding disease mechanisms."

"The content directly applies to evaluating the role of microbial genes in disease, which is highly relevant to my field."

"This course provided a concrete way to apply genomic analysis to real-world biological questions."

Hands-on mastery of the Artemis Comparison Tool.

"I found the hands-on experience with the Artemis Comparison Tool to be the most valuable part of the course."

"The course's emphasis on using ACT for visualizing and comparing genomes was exactly what I needed for my research."

"It's great to finally get practical experience with a tool like ACT in a structured learning environment."

Prior courses are crucial for a successful learning experience.

"I strongly recommend completing the prerequisite courses; otherwise, the advanced topics might be overwhelming."

"Without the foundational knowledge from the earlier courses, I struggled to keep up with some concepts."

"Make sure you have a solid background in bacterial genomes and bioinformatics data before starting this course."

Career center

Learners who complete Bacterial Genomes: Comparative Genomics using Artemis Comparison Tool (ACT) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: