Omics Technologies and Their Analysis

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This course takes you on a journey through the varied landscape of -omics technologies and their applications. We discuss genomics screening methods, both focusing on detection of genetic variants and their association to diseases or other phenotypes, as well as transcriptomics detection of gene expression levels and their changes. Then we turn our attention to proteomics screening technologies, to determine protein abundances. Thereafter, metabolomics is discussed, to detect metabolites and determine their abundances. Finally, we touch upon the integration of the various methods and approaches. For the genomics part of the course, we mainly focus on the application of next-generation sequencing (genome, exome, and RNA sequencing). For proteomics, we discuss separation methods (gel electrophoresis, chromatography) and the most used technology for detection, mass spectrometry. Quantitative proteomics, as well as the combination with imaging technologies, are discussed. For metabolomics, next to gas and liquid chromatography and MS techniques, we discuss nucleic magnetic resonance (NMR) as a frequently used method. For all omics applications included in the course, we discuss sample preparation, quality control, the technology and equipment used, the data generated, its analytical processing, analysis and the interpretation of results. Besides specific omics, the course pays some attention to experimental design of omics-driven research. Also, various biomedical applications are explored. Furthermore, a number of wet-lab and computer practicals illustrate how to prepare samples, analyse them in the lab, process the generated data, and use online resources to interpret the findings. Also, in this course critical evaluation of published findings is taken into account. In addition, a group project has the application of the various omics methods to a dedicated biomedical domain as its core focus. A regular week features two one-hour lectures, one PBL tutorial, either a journal club or an experimental design discussion, a (wet-lab or computer) practical, and a meeting of the project group. Assessment consists of (i) a group presentation of the project work; (ii) a final exam with a number of open questions on the omics discussed as well as their application.