Python programming, Level 1

Introductory course on scripting with the Python language Introduction: Python is a high-level programming language mainly used for writing scripts. It has strong capabilities for text processing and pattern matching and many programming tasks can be completed in very few lines of code. The code then does not even need to be compiled (as is the case in other programming languages like C, C++ and Java), making it ideal for applications where rapid prototyping and automation is desired. Why learn Python? Python, because of its powerful features for processing text, is ideally suited for bioinformatics. Fewer lines of code are needed to be written, and the code is intuitive and easy to learn and implement. Reading a FASTA file takes 1 line of code. Finding patterns in a long DNA sequence is just 1 line of code. DNA can be converted to RNA or reverse complemented in one line of code. Modules like Biopython makes it easier to bring powerful functionality at the fingertips of biologists who can then build powerful, automated workflows. Python can also be used interactively like R and Matlab, giving it an edge over Perl in terms of features. Logistics: This online Python course is divided into two levels and comes with pre-recorded videos, handouts, reference cards, examples, data, scripts and quizzes. Enrollees can contact the instructor with questions and get help on the projects. The main topics are listed below. Homework assignments will involve running commands learned in the live lectures. There are no degree prerequisites for this course, but basic knowledge of computers is essential. Price: $1200 for Commercial/Government enrollees and $600 for Academic researchers and students. Instructor: Shailender Nagpal Syllabus: - Getting started with programming in Python. Installing Python - Variables: creating, printing, interpolating - Operations on variables. Mathematical and logical expressions - Reading and writing files - If-then-else statements - For and while loops - List and string operations - Pattern matching with regular expressions. DNA sequence operations - Writing custom functions - Bioinformatics project