Bioinformatics: Guide to RNA-seq with No Coding Required!

Learn to process & analyse RNA-seq data without code: Transcriptomics, Differential expression, STAR, Pathway analysis

Ever wonder which technologies allow researchers to discover new markers of cancer or to get a greater understanding of genetic diseases? Or even just what genes are important for cellular growth?

This is usually carried out using an application of Next Generation Sequencing Technology called RNA sequencing. Throughout this course, you will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to not only understand but perform RNA sequencing and discover how the transcriptome of a cell changes throughout its growth cycle. To avoid the need for complex software installations, coding experience and in some cases a Linux operating system we will be using a free bioinformatics tool called Galaxy for the whole analysis! Not only that, but we will also be using the STAR pipeline which is currently supported by the ENCODE project!

Once you've completed this course you will know how to:

1. Download publically available data from papers straight onto Galaxy.

2. Obtain the needed raw files for genome alignment.

3. Perform genome alignment using a tool called STAR.

4. Create count tables from your alignment using FeatureCounts.

5. Carry out a differential expression using DESeq2 to find out what changes between a cell on day 4 Vs day 7 of growth.

6. Carry out gene ontology analysis to understand what pathways are up and down-regulated.

7. Use Pathview to create annotated KEGG maps that can be used to look at specific pathways in more detail.

8. Use a web browser-based tool called DEGUST as an alternative to using DESeq2.

Practical Based

The course has one initial lecture explaining some of the basics of sequencing and what RNA sequencing can be used for. Then it's straight into the practical! Throughout the 14 lectures, you are guided step by step through the process from downloading the data to how you could potentially interpret the data at the final stages. Unlike most courses, the process is not simplistic. The project has real-world issues, such as dealing with galaxies limitations and how you can get around them with some initiative!

This course is made for anyone that has an interest in Next-Generation Sequencing and the technologies currently being used to make breakthroughs in genetic and medical research! The course is also meant for beginners in RNA-seq to learn the general process and complete a full walkthrough that is applicable to there own data!