| BNFO 301 |
Topic: Research Project |
Spring 2014
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Rationale
OK, this is the main event.
Why 'What is a Gene'? Why origins of replication? Why BioBIKE? ...all of that so that you could be prepared for the analysis of phage genomes, a project that will consume most of the remainder of the semester.
There's too much to learn about genome analysis. There's WAY too much to learn. Never mind you, there's too much for ME to learn, or any other human for that matter. Fortunately, humans have made significant progress despite the fact that no single human is an expert in all areas. The strategy for your research project is similar to the strategy for all large research projects: each person becomes expert in a small slice of the pie and conversent about other people's slices. Each person contributes to the whole, even though the whole is too big for any single person to comprehend.
To facilitate this, you'll be part of a small group with a common interest in a large topic.
You'll each have a smaller topic within that focus. Each group will meet with me once a week, but
I anticipate you will want to communicate in some way amongst yourselves more frequently than that.
Along the way:
General Advice and Examples
Overview: What and Why Research Proposal?
Advice:
How to find a research topic
Advice: How to build a bibliography
Advice:
How to prepare a presentation on your work
Advice:
Logistics of the Symposium, and what you need to do
Groups
(click here for group assignments)
Each group is defined by a core focus, which comes with multiple
possibly pertinent articles. Group members may use the articles as inspiration, a
starting point to find other pertinent articles, and an aid
in defining and subdividing the project. A group is under no obligation
to stick to any predetermined
agenda, so long as it goes in a direction that is even more interesting
than the original. The notes on Repeats, Tandem Repeats, and Pattern Matching provide a brief overview of the major topics,
but it is no substitute for reading the articles suggested at
each group's web page.
Each person will have an individual project. You may focus on a single bacterial or phage genome or compare multiple genomes.
Starting the week of March 31, I will be meeting with each group at
a specified time (time and place yet to be solidified, but
see your group below). Groups are
encouraged to meet outside of this time to exchange insights useful to all.
I've used the schedules you sent me prior to the last exam to find common times
available to members of the group, listed along with your group.
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