BNFO 301 
Introduction to Bioinformatics
Topic: Introduction to Molecular Biology
Spring 2011 

Rationale
This course focuses on the subset of bioinformatics concerned with genome analysis. For this topic to be of more general interest than working out a crossword puzzle, it is necessary to connect the sequences of genomes to the workings of whole organisms.

Readings, Tours, and Investigations
    Notes: Strategies of Life
    Notes: Protein
    Notes: Flow of Information
    Notes: Gene Regulation and Bacteriophage
    Investigation: What is a Gene?
    Investigation: Alien Genetic Code
    Reading and Tour:

Peter Lynge Madsen, Annette H Johansen, Karin Hammer, and Lone Brondsted
Journal of Bacteriology (1999) 181:7430-7438
The genetic switch regulating activity of early promoters of the temperate lactococcal bacteriophage TP901-1
Tour

Problem Set
    Problem Set 1: Intro to Molecular Biology
                            (The tour The Discovery of RNA may be helpful background for one of the questions)
    Problem Set 2: Molecular Investigations

To Hand In
      28 Jan, end of day*: Responses to questions from What is a Gene?
      4 Feb, end of day*: Problem Set 1 (whatever portion you like)
    11 Feb, end of day*: Problem Set 2

* (however you care to define it, within reason)