Bioinformatics
Program at a glance
The bioinformatics major begins with an exploration of the breadth of the field, with foundational courses in biology, computer science, math, chemistry, and the BHSc core inquiry stream courses. This first-year will set you up with the skills and perspectives you need to more fully explore bioinformatics in the rest of your degree.
You will build upon your first year’s foundation with deeper courses in organic chemistry, statistics, computer science, and genetics. The BHSc core inquiry course (MDSC 308) and your humanities option will help develop your writing and communication skills, while your first core option will allow you a chance to explore other courses related to bioinformatics that interest you.
Here you will begin to engage more directly with “bioinformatics” as a synthesis of the many foundational fields that you began exploring in years one and two. Additionally, this year you will take courses in software engineering, biochemistry, and cell and molecular biology. Your options will expand and allow for greater specialization with upper year options in computer science or the life sciences.
Your final year will include advanced courses in bioinformatics and genomics as well as several senior-level options. The pinnacle of this year, however, is your senior thesis (MDSC 508), which provides an opportunity to develop an original research project under the supervision of a University of Calgary faculty member. This work will reflect the culmination of your extensive training and effort throughout your degree, and can often act as a launchpad to your future career, be it in research, industry, or elsewhere.
MDSC 201 - Applied Tools in Bioinformatics (Block Week)
To familiarize students with computational approaches to studying biology. Topics to be covered include common tools, databases, and search engines for storing, sharing, and analyzing biological information. Students will complete an original project analyzing publicly available data using publicly available computational tools.
MDSC 203 - Developing Health Research Literacy I
Students will be introduced to the interdisciplinary scope of health research through reading and writing assignments. Students will learn the basics of academic research enquiry and practice academic writing and presentation skills through individual and team assignments.
MDSC 205 - Developing Health Research Literacy II
Students will develop their critical thinking skills and their ability to write logically, well-argued research papers. Students will learn the fundamentals of logical reasoning as well as how to analyze theoretical issues in science, medicine, and philosophy.
BIOL 241 - Energy Flow in Biological Systems
An introduction to the energetics of life from molecules through ecosystems. Topics include: energy in biological systems; how different organisms obtain, store and use energy; energy budgets of organisms; and energy flow through cells and ecosystems.
BIOL 243 - DNA, Inheritance and Evolution
An introduction to central concepts in evolution and DNA as a vehicle for inheritance of genetic information. Topics include: the nature of genetic information and inheritance including transcription, translation and replication; natural selection and speciation; origin and history of biodiversity.
CHEM 201 - General Chemistry: Structure and Bonding
An introduction to university chemistry from theoretical and practical perspectives, that focuses on an exploration of the fundamental links between electronic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure and the interactions of molecules using inorganic and organic examples.
CHEM 203 - General Chemistry: Change and Equilibrium
An introduction to university chemistry from theoretical and practical perspectives that focuses on an exploration of the fundamental links between kinetics, equilibria and thermodynamics and explores acidity/basicity and redox behaviour using inorganic and organic examples.
MATH 249 (265) - Introductory Calculus
Algebraic operations. Functions and graphs. Limits, derivatives, and integrals of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. Fundamental theorem of calculus. Improper integrals. Applications.
MATH 267 - University Calculus II
Sequences and series, techniques of integration, multiple integration, applications; parametric equations.
*CPSC 231 (217) - Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I
Introduction to problem solving, the analysis and design of small-scale computational systems, and implementation using a procedural programming language. For computer science majors.
*CPSC 233 (219) - Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors II
Continuation of Introduction to Computer Science for Computer Science Majors I. Emphasis on object-oriented analysis and design of small-scale computational systems and implementation using an object oriented language. Issues of design, modularization, and programming style will be emphasized.
Year 2
CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry I
An introduction to Organic Chemistry from a mechanistic perspective. Structure, bonding, and function, e.g. physical properties and reactivity. Stereochemistry; kinetics and thermodynamics. Spectroscopy (nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, ultra-violet/visible, and mass spectrometric techniques). Substitution and elimination reactions of saturated functional groups - the chemistry of alkanes, alkyl halides, alcohols and their derivatives. Laboratory: Practical techniques.
MDSC 351 - Honours Cellular and Molecular Biology
Introduction to principles in cellular and molecular biology. Emphasizes how structure underlies and determines function in the cell and how complex processes are organized and regulated at the molecular level.
STAT 321 - Introduction to Probability
A calculus-based introduction to probability theory and applications. Elements of probabilistic modelling, Basic probability computation techniques, Discrete and continuous random variables and distributions, Functions of random variables, Expectation and variance, Multivariate random variables, Conditional distributions, Covariance, Conditional expectation, Central Limit Theorem, Applications to real-world modelling.
MDSC 341 - Principles of Human Genetics
Genetics is the study of biological information. The course provides students with the foundations in genetics from inheritance, mutations, molecular, population and clinical genetics. Understanding the role of genetics is key as the foundation of many health problems today.
CPSC 319 - Data Structures, Algorithms, and Their Applications
Fundamental data structures, including arrays, lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables, and graphs. Algorithms for searching and sorting. Applications of these data structures and algorithms. For students wishing to combine studies in computer science with studies in other disciplines.
MDSC 308 - Full year course - Interdisciplinary Research Approaches
Students are introduced to the questions, methods and research techniques used across the different majors of Biomedical Sciences, Bioinformatics and Health and Society and work both independently and in interdisciplinary groups to explore their application to current health issues.
MDSC 301 - Bioinformatics
This introductory course will familiarize students with algorithms and computational techniques for bioinformatics applications. Topics to be covered include algorithm and search engines for the analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences and structures; machine learning techniques for biological data analysis; systems biology approaches for computational modelling.
Humanities Option
*See below
Year 3
SENG 300 - Introduction to Software Engineering
Introduction to the development and evolution of software. Covers key conceptual foundations as well as key methods and techniques used in the different phases of the software lifecycle. Emphasis on both technical and soft skills needed for high quality software and software-based products developed in teams.
BCEM 393 (341) - Introduction to Biochemistry
Biomolecules and metabolism as a foundation for understanding molecular organization and reactions of life. Relationships between structure and biological function of amino acids, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and coenzymes. Principles of metabolism are illustrated using key metabolic pathways. Laboratory involves inquiry-based approaches for studying biomolecules and metabolic pathways.
MDSC 408 - Full year course - Research Design in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
This two semester laboratory course teaches various molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics tools utilized in the biomedical research lab setting.
Senior Option
*See below
MDSC 403 - Computation for Bioinformatics
A focus on current computational and statistical methods in bioinformatics. Topics will shift as computational and statistical methods in bioinformatics shift. The underlying philosophy of how to use computational and statistical techniques to solve biological questions will be elaborated using hands-on examples and inquiry-based projects. The course will build basic skills for both upstream computational processing and downstream statistical characterization.
Core Option
*See below
Senior Option
*See below
Core Option
*See below
Open Option
*See below
Year 4
Core Option
*See below
MDSC 519 - Advanced Bioinformatics
Designed to develop student ability to perform bioinformatics analyses of datasets and develop their knowledge of the current literature. The course will emphasize careful study of recent methodologies for chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) dataset analysis. The course will include lectures, literature review sessions and a self-directed bioinformatics research project.
**MDSC 508 - Full year course - Honours Thesis and Research Communication
Capstone research course in the BHSc to be conducted through any one of the basic research departments. Students would be expected to conduct research. Course also involves weekly small group sessions aimed at building research communication skills. Course culminates with submission of a written thesis that is presented and defended in front of a panel of faculty members in an oral examination.
MDSC 545 - Genomics or MDSC 523 - AI Applications in Health
Students will be introduced to the concepts and techniques currently used in genomics and the applicability and ethical implications of genomic information. Students can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding and broad appreciation of the significance of genomic information in context of rare and common human diseases and genome biology.
MDSC 545 - course info
MDSC 523 - course info
Core Option
*See below
Senior Option
*See below
Core Option
*See below
Options
Open
An open option means you can take any course you like.
Core***
Medical Science 402, 404, 417, 419, 501, 503, 507, 515, 517, 521, 523, 525, 528, 535, 541, 543, 561, 565, 567, 569 Biochemistry 411, 413, 443, 543, 547, 561, 575 Biology 305, 307, 309, 313, 315, 371, 375, 401, 435, 451, 453, 505, 591 Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology 343, 403, 421, 431, 443, 451, 461, 505, 543, 545, 563 Computer Science 329, 335, 355, 359, 399, 405, 409, 411, 433, 441, 449, 457, 461, 471, 481, 499, 526, 550, 565, 568, 571, 575, 583 Data Science 305 Mathematics 311, 313, 319, 325, 331, 361, 367, 376, 391, 413, 415 Statistics 323, 429, 431, 519, 523, 525, 529, 531, 533 MDSC 402 and 417/419 cannot be taken in the same year as MDSC 508.
Senior
Any course at the 300-level or above.
Bioinformatics
Any senior course offered by Faculty of Science, or Biomedical Engineering 515, or senior-level Medical Science courses.
Computer Science
CPSC courses at the 300-level or above.
*Students with programming experience may register in CPSC 235 in place of CPSC 231, CPSC 233. Students selecting this option must have approval from the Department of Computer Science. If a student completes CPSC 235, 3 units may be taken as an open option.
**MDSC 508 (Research Project to be taken in final year) The Research Project is worth 12 units and is held over two terms.
***15 units Core Option: At least 3 units must be in Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology or Medical Science, and at least 3 units must be in Computer Science or Data Science
