Bacterial Genomic Analysis with BV-BRC

Bacterial genomics is transforming medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology, but analyzing sequence data can feel overwhelming without the right tools. This course introduces you to the essentials of bacterial bioinformatics using the powerful, web-based BV-BRC platform. You will transition from understanding basic genomic concepts to confidently running standard analysis workflows. By studying written explanations and working through practical text-based walkthroughs, you will learn how to process raw sequence reads, assemble genomes, annotate genes, and compare bacterial strains. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational bacterial genomics concepts and sequence data formats. - Perform quality control on raw sequencing reads to ensure data integrity. - Assemble bacterial genomes from raw reads using modern taxonomic workflows. - Annotate genomic features to identify protein-coding genes and metabolic pathways. - Compare multiple bacterial genomes to identify taxonomic differences and evolutionary relationships. - Navigate the BV-BRC interface to manage private workspaces and run analytical tools. The course begins with essential terminology and genomic data structures before guiding you step-by-step through assembly, annotation, and comparative analysis workflows. It is designed for beginners in bioinformatics, microbiology students, and researchers looking to start analyzing bacterial sequence data without needing prior programming experience. Start reading today to unlock the insights hidden within bacterial genomes.