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XX50235: Applied data science in biology

[Page last updated: 16 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 15 [equivalent to 30 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 300
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Case Studies (CW 40%)
  • Report (CW 60%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit you will be able to:
* Implement the processes involved in initial data handling, preparation and assessment.
* Discriminatively apply relevant analytic techniques in the context of defined objectives.
* Deploy high-level software technology in "Big Data" scenarios.
* Deliver a report of analytic output obtained from analysis of biological data, including critical assessment of bioinformatic approaches used.


Aims: This unit is aimed at students with strong computational skills interested in gaining extensive hands-on experience in practical data-driven analytic science.

Content: Topics covered normally include data sources and acquisition, preparation and pre-processing, summarisation and exploratory analysis, application of statistical and machine learning models using a relevant programming language (e.g. Python), model assessment and interpretation of results, along with legal and ethical factors. In the second half, topics will typically focus on higher level Python packages, big data technologies, data sources, mainstream applications and report production.

Course availability:

XX50235 is Optional (DEU) on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences
  • RSSL-AFM07 : Integrated PhD Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)
  • TSSL-AFM01 : MSc Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)
  • TSSL-AWM01 : MSc Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.