Skip to main content

UCSanDiegoX: Algorithms and Data Structures Capstone

Synthesize your knowledge of algorithms and biology to build your own software for solving a biological challenge.

Algorithms and Data Structures Capstone
4 weeks
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

8,878 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 29
Ends Jun 30

About this course

Skip About this course

Building a fully-fledged algorithm to assemble genomes from DNA fragments on a real dataset is an enormous challenge with major demand in the multi-billion dollar biotech industry.

In this capstone project, we will take the training wheels off and let you design your own optimized software program for genome sequencing.

This big data challenge will cover the entire MicroMasters program. After a brief introduction to the steps required to build a genome assembler, we will let you take steps on your own to start working with real data taken from a sequencing machine and see if you can design genome assembly software that can compete with popular software used in hundreds of sequencing labs around the world every day.

At a glance

  • Institution: UCSanDiegoX
  • Subject: Computer Science
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:

    Basic knowledge of:

    • at least one programming language: loops, arrays, stacks, recursion.
    • mathematics: proof by induction, proof by contradiction.
  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Algorithms, Biology, Biotechnology, Big Data, Data Structures

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Graph algorithms
  • Algorithms for genome assembly
  • Algorithm optimization

This big data challenge will cover the entire program. After a brief introduction to the steps required to build a genome assembler, we will let you take steps on your own to start working with real data taken from a sequencing machine and see if you can design genome assembly software that can compete with popular software used in hundreds of sequencing labs around the world every day.

Learner testimonials

Skip Learner testimonials

“I write software at a bioscience company, and my duties sometimes have me storing, querying, and organizing bioinformatics data. As a result of your course, I have a much better understanding of the underlying data and analyses. The course has helped me to excel in my job and impress my colleagues.”
-- Previous Student

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Algorithms and Data Structures MicroMasters Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
8 graduate-level courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
9 months
8 - 10 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.