Computing for Biologists: Python Programming and Principles - Softcover

Libeskind-Hadas, Ran; Bush, Eliot

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1107642183 ISBN 13: 9781107642188

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2014

Synopsis

Computing is revolutionizing the practice of biology. This book, which assumes no prior computing experience, provides students with the tools to write their own Python programs and to understand fundamental concepts in computational biology and bioinformatics. Each major part of the book begins with a compelling biological question, followed by the algorithmic ideas and programming tools necessary to explore it: the origins of pathogenicity are examined using gene finding, the evolutionary history of sex determination systems is studied using sequence alignment, and the origin of modern humans is addressed using phylogenetic methods. In addition to providing general programming skills, this book explores the design of efficient algorithms, simulation, NP-hardness, and the maximum likelihood method, among other key concepts and methods. Easy-to-read and designed to equip students with the skills to write programs for solving a range of biological problems, the book is accompanied by numerous programming exercises, available at www.cs.hmc.edu/CFB.

About this title

Book Description

Specifically designed for life science students with no prior computing experience, this textbook teaches computational problem-solving along with Python programming skills. The chapters cover three key tools - gene finding, sequence alignment and phylogenetic methods. An accompanying website features numerous integrated exercises, equipping students with the skills to write programs independently.

About the Author

Ran Libeskind-Hadas is the R. Michael Shanahan Professor of Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College, USA, working in the areas of algorithms and computational biology. He is a recipient of both the Iris and Howard Critchell Professorship and the Joseph B. Platt Professorship for teaching, as well as the Distinguished Alumni Educator Award from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Department of Computer Science.

Eliot Bush is Associate Professor of Biology at Harvey Mudd College, USA. His main research interest is the study of evolution. Among other things he has modeled the evolution of metabolism, characterized DNA methylation patterns in insects, developed algorithms for studying substitution bias in DNA, and analyzed a 30-million-year-old primate fossil. His teaching interests focus on incorporating computers and programming assignments into biology coursework.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1107642183
• ISBN 13: 9781107642188
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 218