Course Title: Computational Biology
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Computational Biology
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus.
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
Course Coordinator: Jessica Holien
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7256
Course Coordinator Email: jessica.holien@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 223, Bundoora West
Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Assumed Knowledge:
Some basic computational knowledge and knowledge of genetics, chemistry and/or biochemistry would be advantageous, such as from the courses BIOL2146 Cell Biology & Biochemistry, BIOL2262 Genetics & Molecular Biology, and BIOL2527 Genomics & Gene Technologies.
Course Description
Computational Biology is an arm of Bioinformatics. It is the computational use of biological information to solve problems. This course will deliver examples in this rapidly evolving field including descriptions of biological databases and relevant tools available to retrieve and analyse the information within these. You will learn how to utilise this data and relate it to protein structure/function and computational drug discovery. This course will enable you to get a taste of the current computational biology techniques used in academia and industry. The skills developed will aid those exploring future careers in multi-disciplinary science, particularly Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, and Drug Discovery.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes
The course is a program option course, however, will contribute to following program learning outcomes for:
BP350 (Bachelor of Science).
For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the basic principles that underpin computational biology and bioinformatic analyses, and apply these principles when analysing biological data;
- Analyse biological data using a variety of computational bioinformatic tools;
- Interpret correctly the outputs from tools used to analyse biological data and make meaningful predictions from these outputs;
- Explain how computational biology is used in real world settings and apply this knowledge to deliver solutions to these real world problems.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.
You will be presented with a series of lectorials that illustrate both fundamental principles of Computational Biology and the applications of these principles in particular areas. Experts in such fields will present these lectorials. A set of online computer tutorials will accompany the lectorials.
Learning will be facilitated by:
- your participation in lectorials where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
- completion of computer tutorials designed to give you further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on your progress and understanding;
- completion of assignments requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
- private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual problems.
You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course Site.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course Site.
Lectorial and computer tutorial notes will be provided through Canvas, as will other articles of interest such as research articles and websites. No formal textbook is assigned, however you are directed to the liaison librarian
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1: Tutorial Reports
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 and 4
Assessment Task 2: Online Quiz
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, and 3
Assessment Task 3: Practical report
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 and 4
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.