by Allegra Via, Sapienza University, Roma, IT and ELIXIR-IT

Python is an object-oriented programming language that is ideal for biological data analysis. The course will start from zero knowledge, and will introduce the participants to all the basic concepts of Python such as calculating, repeating things, making choices, reading and writing files, filtering and organising data, program logic and writing larger programs. All the examples and practical sessions will focus on solving biological problems. In particular the sessions will cover:

- parsing common file formats (Uniprot, GenBank, PDB, BLAST)
- data retrieval from files and their manipulation
- manipulating tables
- ways to find and correct program errors
- plotting data

The course will be highly interactive and the students will continuously put theory into practice while learning. By the end of the course, the participants will have a good understanding of Python basics and will have acquired the skills to manage any type of bioinformatics database record and to run applications from scripts. Basic Unix/Linux skills will be provided at the beginning of the course.

You can also find some extra lessons on Tabular Data, Debugging and Error Handling.

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• PPB17 November 27-30
  by Allegra Via, assisted by David P. Judge and Pedro L. Fernandes.

• ELIXIR-IT Python Course. Prepared by Allegra Via and Vincenza Colonna.