What will I actually learn in this bioinformatics course?

You'll learn how to use bioinformatics tools to access biological data, compare sequences, and draw sensible conclusions from the results. It starts with databases and BLAST, then builds into broader sequence analysis and evolutionary interpretation, with later work on selection and sequencing-based data. In the guided labs, you'll do tasks such as searching GenBank, interpreting BLAST output, and examining related sequences side by side.

Do I need to know molecular biology or programming before taking this course?

No, you don't need programming for this course. Some familiarity with basic molecular biology is helpful because the course works with genes, proteins, and sequence data from the start. It moves quickly into using databases and analysis tools rather than teaching biology fundamentals from scratch.

Is this course beginner-friendly for bioinformatics?

Yes, if you're new to bioinformatics but already know some basic molecular biology, this is a good beginner course. The material starts with core tasks like using biological databases and interpreting BLAST results, then adds more advanced analysis through guided lessons and labs. If terms like genes, proteins, or homology are completely new to you, the pace may feel faster.

How long does it take to complete this course?

Plan on about 20 hours in total. That's roughly two weeks at around 10 hours a week, with enough time to move through the lessons and readings and then complete the guided labs and quizzes. The course includes lessons, readings, labs, quizzes, and a final assignment.

Are there hands-on exercises or labs in this course?

Yes, the course includes guided labs throughout rather than a single end-of-course project. You'll search biological databases, run BLAST analyses, build multiple sequence alignments, and generate phylogenetic trees in step-by-step exercises using established tools. That hands-on work helps you apply each method as you learn it.

What skills and topics are covered in this course?

You'll cover the main bioinformatics tasks used to work with sequence data: finding records, comparing sequences, and studying how sequences are related. The course also introduces selection analysis and sequencing-based data, including RNA-seq and metagenomics, so you can see how bioinformatics supports modern biology research. Overall, the emphasis is on using existing resources to answer biological questions, not on writing code.

What can I actually do after finishing this course?

After finishing, you should be able to use common bioinformatics resources to investigate a gene or protein sequence and interpret the main results. A realistic task would be finding related sequences, comparing them in an alignment, and using that information to read or build a simple phylogenetic tree. You'll also be better prepared to make sense of selection analyses and basic RNA-seq or metagenomic outputs.

Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?

It's a hands-on course, but the practice is guided rather than project-heavy. Each topic is explained in lessons and then reinforced through labs and quizzes, so it suits learners who want to use real bioinformatics tools step by step.

Why would I choose this course over other bioinformatics courses?

Choose this course if you want bioinformatics taught as a working method for biologists, not as a programming course. It focuses on using established web-based resources and guided labs to answer real questions about sequences, relationships, and sequencing data, with Professor Nicholas Provart leading the instruction. If you want a broad, applied introduction that stays accessible to beginners, this course is a strong fit.

Bioinformatic Methods I

Bioinformatic Methods I

This course is part of Plant Bioinformatic Methods Specialization

Instructor: Nicholas James Provart

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8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,786 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,786 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

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Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

Large-scale biology projects such as the sequencing of the human genome and gene expression surveys using RNA-seq, microarrays and other technologies have created a wealth of data for biologists. However, the challenge facing scientists is analyzing and even accessing these data to extract useful information pertaining to the system being studied. This course focuses on employing existing bioinformatic resources – mainly web-based programs and databases – to access the wealth of data to answer questions relevant to the average biologist, and is highly hands-on.

Topics covered include multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetics, gene expression data analysis, and protein interaction networks, in two separate parts. The first part, Bioinformatic Methods I (this one), deals with databases, Blast, multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetics, selection analysis and metagenomics. The second part, Bioinformatic Methods II, covers motif searching, protein-protein interactions, structural bioinformatics, gene expression data analysis, and cis-element predictions. This pair of courses is useful to any student considering graduate school in the biological sciences, as well as students considering molecular medicine. Both provide an overview of the many different bioinformatic tools that are out there. These courses are based on one taught at the University of Toronto to upper-level undergraduates who have some understanding of basic molecular biology. If you're not familiar with this, something like BIO101 from Saylor Academy (https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=889) might be helpful. No programming is required for this course. Bioinformatic Methods I is regularly updated, and was completely updated for January 2026.

Module details

In this module we'll be exploring the amazing resources available at NCBI, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, run by the National Library of Medicine in the USA. We'll also be doing a Blast search to find similar sequences in the enormous NR sequence database. We can use similar sequences to infer homology, which is the primary predictor of gene or protein function.

What's included

4 videos4 readings1 assignment

In this module we'll continue exploring the incredible resources available at NCBI, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information. We will be performing several different kinds of Blast searches: BlastP, PSI-Blast, and Translated Blast. We can use similar sequences identified by such methods to infer homology, which is the primary predictor of gene or protein function. We'll also be comparing parts of the genomes of a couple of different species, to see how similar they are.