Learning outcomes: At the end of the course you can:

• conduct nucleic acid isolation and library preparation for the major next-generation DNA sequencing machines in a small team 
• use the Bash shell to navigate directory structures, manipulate files and execute commands in an automated manner
• identify functionally relevant genetic variation in genes
• define the human microbiome and explain the role metagenomics plays in its investigation
• define the transcriptome and explore its features
• define human genetic variation
• explore metabolic and signal transduction pathways
• report on your next generation sequencing research findings in a public talk
• reflect on ethical questions and implications pertaining to next generation sequencing applications in medicine and ecology.

The general objective is to provide students with theoretical background and hands-on experience in microbial (meta)genomics, medical genomics and transcriptomics.  Bioinformatic aspects of genome complexity, read mapping, next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) signal quantification and functional interpretation are taught.

There is a 3 week long department-specific full time practical component to this course, split across the Microbiology (FNWI), Human  Genetics (UMCN) and Molecular Biology (FNWI) departments. During this practical you will perform research in groups of 3 students together with researchers from one of the departments, working with them on their ongoing research topic. Hence GHE students are exposed to state-of-the-art research practice. Students from each practical group report their findings during a two-day symposium which also hosts international speakers.