Spring 2026 · Utah Valley University

Introduction to Bioinformatics

BIOL 1011-02  ·  Dr. Carl Hjelmen  ·  Spring 2026
Tue / Thu Introductory · 1 Credit 15 Weeks Includes R Programming

Course Info

CourseBIOL 1011-02
SemesterSpring 2026
FormatTue / Thu in-person
InstructorDr. Carl Hjelmen
OfficeSB 242b
EmailCarl.Hjelmen@uvu.edu
Download Syllabus

Questions & Contact

Email is the best way to reach me. Check the contact page for office hours and my calendar.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Distinguish the process of science from other ways of understanding the world
  2. Evaluate evidence to solve problems using scientific thinking
  3. Describe the basic terminology and principles of bioinformatic "omics" — genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.
  4. Contrast the different methodologies of DNA sequencing
  5. Effectively use databases, websites, and computational methods for studying biological data in relation to the evolution of genes, proteins, and whole genomes
  6. Interact with the practical applications of bioinformatics, including basic coding in R

Course Schedule

Subject to change — check Canvas for updates
Exam / final project No class / break Reading Assignment due
1
T Jan. 6
R Jan. 8
Intro to Bioinformatics
Scientific Process (video)
Syllabus Quiz
Lesk: Preface, pp. 34–37; Gauthier et al. 2019; Markowetz 2017
2
T Jan. 13
R Jan. 15
Evolution (video)
Evolution
Case Study: Does Sugar Cause Hyperactivity?
Lesk: pp. 1–7
3
T Jan. 20
R Jan. 22
Inheritance
Inheritance
Evolution Worksheet
4
T Jan. 27
R Jan. 29
Central Dogma: DNA Structure
DNA Replication
Inheritance Assignment
Lesk: pp. 9–17, 49–58; Crick 1970
5
T Feb. 3
R Feb. 5
RNA Transcription
Protein Translation
DNA Structure Assignment
Lesk: pp. 88–122
6
T Feb. 10
R Feb. 12
Central Dogma — Omics
Genome Sequencing Intro
📋 Take-Home Exam 1 — due Feb. 10
Lesk: pp. 57–67
7
T Feb. 17
R Feb. 19
Genome Sequencing Intro cont.
Next & 3rd Generation Sequencing
Sequencing Intro Assignment
Shendure et al. 2017; Sims et al. 2014; Logsdon et al. 2020; Heather & Chain; Goodwin et al. 2016
8
T Feb. 24
R Feb. 26
Steps of Sequencing Processing
Genome Assembly
Sequencing Assignment
Lesk: pp. 68–73; Rice & Green 2017
9
T Mar. 3
R Mar. 5
Genome Assembly pt. 2
BLAST
—
T Mar. 10
R Mar. 12
Spring Break — No Class
10
T Mar. 17
R Mar. 19
Other Uses of NCBI
Phylogenetics
BLAST/NCBI Assignment (in class)
Lesk: pp. 123–143; Langmead & Nellore 2018; Erlich & Narayanan 2014
11
T Mar. 24
R Mar. 26
Phylogenetics Hands-On
Biology and Computers
📋 Take-Home Exam 2 — due Mar. 24
Building Your Own Phylogeny (in class)
Lesk: pp. 154–171; Kapli et al. 2020
12
T Mar. 31
R Apr. 2
DNA Kits & Genetic Privacy
Introduction to R
Lesk: pp. 356–372, 378–393
13
T Apr. 7
R Apr. 9
Using R
Using R
R Assignment
14
T Apr. 14
R Apr. 16
Subsetting Data
Writing a Function
R Assignment
15
T Apr. 21
— Apr. 27
Identifying Types of Chromosomes
Final — Finish Final Project
📋 Take-Home Exam 3 — due Apr. 21
🏆 Final Project — due Apr. 27
Major Deadlines at a Glance
Take-Home Exam 1
Due Feb. 10
Take-Home Exam 2
Due Mar. 24
Take-Home Exam 3
Due Apr. 21
Final Project
Due Apr. 27