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Free module

Bioinformatics: sequences and alignment

Learn bioinformatics hands on: DNA as strings, FASTA files, sequence alignment, gap scoring, k-mer motifs and translating codons.

6 lessons370 min lessonAI and data science

The lessons

Each lesson is free to read in full. Create a free account to run its commands in a live lab and to sit its quizzes and tasks.

  1. 1 · Container lab

    DNA sequences as strings in Python

    I can count the bases in a DNA sequence and work out its GC content and reverse complement.

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  2. 2 · Container lab

    Reading a FASTA file in Python

    I can read the sequences in a FASTA file into a dictionary.

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  3. 3 · Container lab

    Pairwise sequence alignment and scoring

    I can score an alignment of two sequences with a match, mismatch and gap score.

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  4. 4 · Container lab

    Gap penalties and local alignment

    I can change the scoring rule and say how it changes the alignment score.

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  5. 5 · Container lab

    Finding k-mers and motifs in DNA

    I can count the k-mers of a sequence and find where a motif starts.

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  6. 6 · Container lab

    Translating DNA into a protein

    I can translate a DNA sequence into a protein with a codon table.

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Worked in a real lab

Every lesson of this module is worked in a lab started for you alone. The labs it uses:

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