BIO200 Information Technology and Bioinformatics

Contents and structure

Content and structure

The course consists of three parts; information technology (20% of the course), programming and data analysis with R (30% of the course) and bioinformatics (50% of the course).

The course provides students with basic knowledge about ICT, frameworks, structure and organization of ICT systems and ICT-related work processes in the health sector. The students will gain an increased understanding of the function of ICT within medical laboratories and laboratory analyses and the health service as a whole. Such expertise will contribute to better interaction and communication with other actors who contribute to the development, organisation and operation of information technology; databases, servers, various software and control systems for instrumentation.

The course provides basic training in programming with R in addition to using R as a tool to collect, process, export, analyze, perform statistical calculations and visualize biological data.

Bioinformatic analyses are increasingly playing a central role in medical laboratory analyses. The purpose of the course is to give the student a basic introduction to the use of biological databases, data processing and analyses where bioinformatics tools are used. Legislation, opportunities and limitations in the field are also touched upon.

Content

Information Technology

• What is information and communication technology (ICT) and what is the function of ICT within medical laboratories and the health service as a whole?
• Basic technical terms in ICT and standardization of terminology
• Laws and regulations on information security, data security, patient safety and privacy
• Relationships and organisation of ICT in the health sector
• Electronic patient records
• Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), Middleware Solutions and Control Systems for Analytical Instruments
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and pattern recognition are discussed

The analysis and programming tool R

• Learn principles of programming and how the computer interprets the programming instructions
• Use R as a programming tool to process and analyze biological data
• Learn good programming routines
• Use the analysis tool R to inspect, sort, reshape, process, analyze and visualize data
• Import data from different data sources
• Using R in quality assurance work

Bioinformatics

• What are databases and how to structure and organize information in a database
• Biological databases
• Biobanks
• Analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences
• Pair and Multiple Sequence Assemblies (BLAST)
• Protein characterization
• Evolution and phylogeny
• Examples of bioinformatic analysis methods used in routine diagnostics / medical laboratories
• Personalised medicine

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

• Can give an account of the overall, basic structure and organization of ICT in medical laboratories and within the health service as a whole
• Has knowledge of information technology, including laboratory information systems (LIS), middleware solutions and control systems for analytical instruments
• Has knowledge of laws and regulations (and systems) that ensure patient safety
• Can describe key bioinformatic tools and databases, as well as explain basic principles and application of selected bioinformatic analysis methods
• Can give examples of the application of bioinformatics in personalised medicine
• Is familiar with laws and regulations that regulate the creation, approval and use of databases in the field of medicine and health

Skills:

• Masters basic ICT concepts
• Has digital competence and can use ICT systems in accordance with laws and regulations on data security and privacy
• Can perform basic bioinformatic analyses
• Can acquire new knowledge and update themselves on bioinformatics tools
• Has the ability to think critically and reflect on the opportunities and limitations that lie in the field of bioinformatics
• Can perform basic programming
• Can take data from different sources, sort, transform, analyze, visualize and export data for further use

General competence:

• Can exchange views and experiences and is able to update his/her knowledge through information gathering, contact with the academic community and the professional field
• Can plan and carry out bioinformatic analyses on a data material based on a given problem
• Can relate critically to subject matter from various databases and websites, and refer to these as sources

Entry requirements

All exams from second year of the Bachelor program in Biomedical Laboratory Science study should be passed.

Target group is students in the 3rd or 4th year of a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Science.”

Teaching methods

Lectures, problem solving, project work, computer exercises, demonstrations

Compulsory learning activities

Information Technology: (20%)

• Compulsory participation in seminars
• Individual assignment
• Group assignment
• The e-learning course DigSam

Programming and Analysis Tool R (30%):

• Attendance at computer lab
• Computer exercises / Individual tasks

Bioinformatics (50%):

• Attendance at computer lab
• Computer exercises / Individual tasks

The computer exercises and assignments can be submitted a total of two times for approval. All coursework requirements must be completed by set deadlines and approved before the exam can be taken.

Approved mandatory work requirements are valid for six consecutive semesters. The computer lab is only arranged once in the course. Students who are absent, or for other reasons do not have their mandatory computer exercises approved, must wait until the next time the course is scheduled.

Assessment

Written home exam, 5 hours.

The exam will be held digitally on Wiseflow.

The time and place of the exam will be announced on Studentweb.

Students must use their own computer (PC/Mac). The software necessary to conduct the exam must be installed and tested in advance.

Grading scale; Pass/Fail

Examination support material

All aids are allowed. Computer with access to the internet. It is permitted to use lecture notes and textbooks.

The tasks must be solved individually and it is not allowed to collaborate.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as an aid, but not to answer the questions directly. If AI is used, this must be declared in the exam paper.

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• BIO127 - Anvendt Bioinformatikk - Reduction: 5 studypoints