Bioinformatics: Using the Ensembl Genome Browser

Prerequisites

This two day course provides an introduction to the investigation of annotated Genomes stored in Ensembl databases using the Ensembl Genome Browser. Further information is available.

Please note that if you are not eligible for a University of Cambridge Raven account you will need to book by email.

• All University members (this includes colleges and departments)
• External participants (where spaces are available)
• Further details regarding Graduate School of Life Sciences' eligibility criteria are available

• Basic computing skills
• Graduate level in Life Sciences

Number of sessions: 2

• Introduction to Ensembl: origin, goals and organization of the Ensembl project
• Worked example: guided tour of the most important pages of the Ensembl website
• Data mining with BioMart: retrieving datasets using the data mining tool BioMart
• Evaluating genes and transcripts: how are Ensembl gene and transcripts predictions made?

• Comparative genomics and proteomics: orthologues, protein families, whole genome alignments and syntenic regions
• Variations: SNPs, haplotypes, linkage disquilibrium
• Advanced access & DAS: uploading your own data, other ways of accessing Ensembl data
• Help with research-related problems (optional)

To enable participants to browse the Ensembl Databases with confidence

Presentations, demonstrations and practicals

• None of our current courses require you to bring your own computer, however, if you want to bring a laptop and have it online we can arrange access via the University Lapwing wireless service
• Participants are encouraged to bring problems/questions about their research to try to tackle these during the workshop using Ensembl

2

A number of times per year