Workshops and courses

ELIXIR node event Introduction to Python for Biologists

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Date: 20 - 24 January 2025

Python is a dynamic, readable language that is a popular platform for all types of bioinformatics work, from simple one-off scripts to large, complex software projects. This workshop is aimed at complete beginners and assumes no prior programming experience. It gives an overview of the language with an emphasis on practical problem-solving, using examples and exercises drawn from various aspects of bioinformatics work. The workshop is structured so that the parts of the language most useful for bioinformatics are introduced as early as possible, and that students can start writing plausibly-useful programs after the first few sessions. After completing the workshop, students should be in a position to (1) apply the skills they have learned to tackling problems in their own research and (2) continue their Python education in a self-directed way.

Keywords: Beginner, Bioinformatics, Programming, Python

Prerequisites:

  • Students should have enough biological/bioinformatics background to appreciate the examples and exercise problems (i.e. they should know what a protein accession number, BLAST report, and FASTA sequence is).
  • No previous programming experience or computer skills (beyond the ability to use a text editor) are necessary.
  • The workshop uses Jupyter Notebooks for Python3, which we’ll ask you to install on your own computer prior to the course. Full instructions and support will be provided.

Learning objectives:

  • Conditions
  • Dictionaries
  • Introduction
  • Lists and loops
  • Manipulating text
  • Regular expressions
  • Working with files
  • Working with the filesystem
  • Writing functions

Organizer: Edinburgh Genomics

Target audience: This workshop is aimed at researchers and technical workers with a background in biology who want to learn programming. The syllabus has been planned with complete beginners in mind; people with previous programming experience are welcome to attend as a refresher but may find the pace a bit slow. If in doubt, take a look at the detailed session content below.

Event types:

  • Workshops and courses

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