An introduction to bioinformatics (what it is, why it is needed and what it can deliver) as well as the required skills to browse, query various relevant resources.

The course covers the programming basics required to program in Python, which is fast becoming one of the most popular programming languages in the bioinformatics community, and its application in retrieving, parsing and visualising biological sequence data.



At a glance

  • DurationFive days
  • LocationCranfield campus
  • Cost

    £1,400

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Identify the most important programming structures,
  • Retrieve relevant nucleotide, protein sequences and their corresponding metadata from online public data resources,
  • Develop custom Python scripts for sequence manipulation,
  • Develop Python scripts to automate data handling and curation tasks,
  • Develop advanced stand-alone Python programs for the acquisition and consolidation of data from remote databases.

Core content

  • Fundamentals of Python programming,
  • Introduction to Object Oriented Programming (OOP),
  • Simple mathematical operations,
  • Modules in Python,
  • Various data types and Objects,
  • Control Statements,
  • Lists, Tuples and Dictionaries,
  • Functions,
  • File IO,
  • Programming for biology using BioPython,
    • DNA sequence manipulation using Perl,
    • Reading protein files,
    • Performing Multiple Sequence Alignment,
    • BLAST,
    • Data Visualisation,
  • Biological data format.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

Cranfield credits are available for this short course which you can put towards selected Cranfield degrees. Find out more about short course credit points.

Accommodation options and prices

This is a non-residential course. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information regarding our accommodation on campus can be found here.

Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world. 

For further location and travel details

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford
MK43 0AL

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.