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Bioinformatics - Investigating Sequence Similarity

Author(s): Adam Kleinschmit1, Benita Brink1, Steven Roof2, Komal Vig3, Carlos Christopher Goller4, Sabrina Robertson5

1. Adams State University 2. Hampshire College 3. Alabama State University 4. North Carolina State University 5. NC State

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Summary:
This laboratory module, leads introductory biology students in the exploration of a basic set of bioinformatics concepts and tools.
Contents:

Description

This laboratory module, leads introductory biology students in the exploration of a basic set of bioinformatics concepts and tools. The exercise utilizes simple paper models to help students understand matrices and algorithms prior to use of web-based computational tools. Students start the module by defining sequence similarity and then investigating how similarity can be quantitatively compared between two similar length proteins using a BLOSUM scoring matrix. Students then consider finding local regions of similarity between a sequence query and subjects within a large database using BLAST. Lastly, students practice accessing FASTA formatted sequence information via NCBI databases as they collect sequences for a multiple sequence alignment in order to generate a phylogenetic tree.

Notes

The learning resource was modified to provide further background information for the reader in addition to an expanded paper-based distance matrix exercise and a set of inquiry questions now bookend the resource to promote student engagement and application of the concepts explored.

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