Introducing Genome Browsers, Genome Structure, and Gene Annotation

This session will describe how genome browsers and other more advanced genome analysis tools can be introduced into introductory undergraduate genetics courses.  Through a multi-week laboratory experience students not only build a solid set of foundational bioinformatics skills, they also develop a sense of confidence that empowers them to begin to use new and unfamiliar bioinformatics tools.  In addition, students experience first hand the concepts of gene and genome structure as they identify and annotate the genes within small regions of plant genomes.  The entry point for exposing the students to genome browsers is through the use of DNA Subway Red Line, an educational portal developed by the iPlant Collaborative.  Using the Red Line students build their own genome browser view of a 100,000 bp region of the genome under investigation.  Students can then interpret their genome browser view in light of available experimental data such as RNA-Seq analyses and use the genome annotation tool Apollo to refine their gene models.  These same skills and bioinformatics tools can be expanded upon in advanced undergraduate courses and independent research experiences.