NOTE: This may contain a few errors - please see the syllabus given in class!

Computational Biology Tentative Syllabus
Spring 2001

Computational Biology is a new course! It is only for the brightest students who want great futures! This interesting field is a subset of biotechnology. The so-called Digital Divide will be nothing compared to the Bio-Divide - that's a term I just made up - that is currently present and will continue to grow! If you are enrolled in this course, you have made a great life decision.

Course
Name:		Computational Biology
Course
Numbers:		SYCS 474, CRN 16030, Sec 01
Times:MWF 8:10-9:00 am
Professor:Dr. Kathleen M. Kaplan
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Systems and Computer Science
Howard University, (202)-806-7286
[email protected]
https://www.imappl.org/~kaplan
Course
web-site:		 https://www.imappl.org/~kaplan/spring01/compbio/compbio.html
Textbooks:
  • Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology, by Joao Setubal and Joao Meidanis, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. ISBN 0-534-95262-3, copyright 1997. [ICMB]
  • The Cartoon Guide to Genetics, by Larry Gonick, Mark Wheelis (Contributor), Harperperennial Library. ISBN: 0-062-73099-1. (This can be found on Amazon in case it's hard to find!) [CGG]
  • DNA for Beginners, by Israel Rosenfield, Edward Ziff, and Borin Van Loon, Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book. ISBN: 0-863-16023-9 (Again, may be hard to find!) [DFB]

Games!
As promised, we will be playing games at various times throughout the semester. The games will be used as learning tools. Note that I am a professor, and not Milton-Bradley®, but I'll try to make the games as interesting as I can. The rules of the games will be discussed at game time and the results will have a direct impact on your course grade. You can expect to play a game roughly every two weeks, but the dates may not be given in advance!

Handouts
Other reading material will be assigned in the course.

Class Attendance
Class Attendance is expected. The course is very fast-paced and will not be slowed for those not attending.

Project
Students will be given a project to work on throughout the semester. The project will consist of research, report, and presentation. Updates throughout the semester may be required. More information on the specific project, updates, and due dates will be given at a later date.

Programs/Homework/Assignments
Homework will be assigned throughout the semester. It is due at the beginning of class on the due-date. Any homework not submitted at this time will be given an automatic zero.

Quizzes
Students in Computational Biology can expect quizzes frequently. Quizzes may not be announced in advance. A missed quiz is a zero and no make-up quizzes will be given.

Exams
There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The midterm exam will be held on February 28, 2001, Wednesday. It will be worth 25% of the course grade. The final exam will be held on May 3, 2001, Thursday, from 8 am to 10 am. The final exam is worth 30% of the course grade and is cumulative. Specifications for both exams will be given prior to the exam dates.

NOTE:
This is just a tentative schedule. The course will attempt to cover all the above topics, but the instructor reserves the right to alter course material. Also, some topics may require more or less time than given above.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty, i.e., cheating, will not be tolerated in this course. Any instances of cheating will result in, at the very least, a zero for the assignment/exam/etc. and notification to all necessary officials.

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
If you want to be identified as a person with a disability and need special accommodations, please make an appointment to see Dr. Kaplan.

Grading
Quizzes/Games15%
Midterm, February 28, Wednesday20%
Programs/Homework/Assignments15%
Project20%
Final, May 3, Thursday30%

Tentative Outline
DateSubjectOther
Jan. 8, 10, 12Introduction to course and Dr. Kaplan!Read Chapter 1 ICMB
Read CGG & DFB
Jan. 15 (Monday)No class - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan. 17, 18Basic Concepts of Molecular Biology Continue reading
Jan. 22, 24, 26 Subject Continued Read Chapter 2 ICMB
Jan. 29, 31, Feb. 2Strings, Graphs, and AlgorithmsRead Chapter 3 ICMB
Feb. 5, 7, 9Sequence Comparison & DB search Continue reading
Feb. 12, 14, 16 Subject Continued Read Chapter 4 ICMB
Feb. 19 (Monday)No class - President's Day
Feb. 21, 23Fragment Assembly of DNARead Chapter 5 ICMB
Feb. 26, 28, Mar. 2Physical Mapping of DNA
Midterm: Feb. 28		Read Chapter 6 ICMB
Mar. 5, 7, 9Phylogenetic TreesRead Chapter 7 ICMB
Mar. 12, 14, 16Genome Rearrangements Continue reading
Mar. 19, 21, 23No classes - Spring Break
Mar. 26, 28, 30 Subject Continued Read Chapter 8 ICMB
Apr. 2, 4, 6Molecular Structure PredictionStart of Oral Presentations!
Apr. 9, 11, 13Oral Presentations Continued!Read Chapter 9 ICMB
Note: April 13th is the last day to withdraw
Apr. 16, 18, 20Computing with DNA Continue reading
Apr. 23, 25Wrap-up and review for final
Note: April 26th is the last day of classes		 Continue reading
May 3FINAL, 8-10 am
To: Dr. Kaplan's web-site.
To: Howard University web-site.
To: College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences web-site.
To: Department of Systems and Computer Science web-site.

© Kathleen M. Kaplan 2000
Dr. Kathleen Kaplan, Howard University
Email: [email protected]