Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/plant-bioinformatics-capstone
The world of plant biology has been revolutionized in the last 15 years. With hundreds of plant genomes sequenced, advanced techniques like RNA-seq providing transcriptome-wide expression profiling, and a surge in high-throughput methods for identifying protein interactions, we now have unprecedented tools to explore plant life. The ‘Plant Bioinformatics Capstone’ course on Coursera.org dives deep into these advancements, offering a hands-on experience to navigate the complex landscape of plant genomic data.
This capstone project, building upon the foundational knowledge from the ‘Plant Bioinformatics’ course, centers around a specific gene of interest, At3g20300, from Arabidopsis. The course is structured to guide learners through a comprehensive analysis, starting with exploring the gene’s characteristics using online databases. We learn to gather crucial information such as gene size, identify homologs, understand phylogenetic relationships, analyze domain information, and predict subcellular localization. Furthermore, the course emphasizes the importance of gene expression data, teaching us how to utilize expression databases to infer potential functions based on where and when a gene is active.
A significant portion of the capstone is dedicated to identifying genes related to our gene of interest. The concept of coexpression analysis as a primary screening tool for identifying genes within biological pathways is thoroughly explored. We learn to identify genes that are coexpressed with At3g20300 and investigate whether their promoter regions share common cis-regulatory motifs. This is a powerful technique for uncovering hidden functional relationships.
The analysis extends to understanding the function of our gene and its associated gene network. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis is presented as a vital method for deciphering the collective function of coexpressed gene sets. By applying these analyses, we can infer the role of genes with unknown functions and explore potential pathways they are involved in. The course also introduces other network tools to uncover additional linkages beyond simple coexpression, providing a more holistic view of gene interactions.
The culmination of this learning journey is the development of a lab report or essay. Learners synthesize all the gathered information to propose a putative function for the gene of interest. This involves drawing upon existing literature to understand related genes and formulating hypotheses for experimental validation. The process includes drafting the report, receiving peer feedback, and refining it into a final, polished submission. The capstone effectively trains participants to translate raw genomic data into meaningful biological insights and present their findings professionally.
Overall, the ‘Plant Bioinformatics Capstone’ is an invaluable course for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of plant genomics and bioinformatics. It provides practical skills and a structured approach to analyzing complex biological data, making it highly recommended for students and researchers in the field.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/plant-bioinformatics-capstone