The distance learning course 'Introduction to Bioinformatics' from the
University of Manchester, UK, begins again on 6 October 2008. This is a
Masters level course; credits can count towards either the MSc in
Bioinformatics or the MSc in Immunology and Immunogenetics
(http://www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/distancelearning/).

The course is delivered in a Virtual Learning Environment, which allows
us to extend the classroom into the web. Teaching and learning are
focussed around tutor-supported exercises. In this course, participants
work together on the interpretation of their results, before receiving
feedback from the course tutor. Participants who wish to be assessed
for credits at MSc level should complete additional independent research.

Week 1 Introduction to distance learning
Bioinformatics as a knowledge-based discipline

Weeks 2 and 3 Introduction to the sequence databases
Quality, redundancy and annotation
Sequence retrieval exercise and group discussion