Prof. Heyer and a student look at data on a desktop computer in a lab

Majors and Minor

Genomics and Bioinformatics at Davidson

The mission of the Genomics and Bioinformatics department is to expand students' understanding of biology to incorporate bioinformatic and genomic methods for asking questions, collecting data, and solving problems.

Students who participate in the program will: 1) pursue careers of their choosing that use their interdisciplinary training; 2) analyze complex datasets to discern patterns and detect connections between seemingly unrelated biological events; and 3) communicate complex, data-rich information clearly and concisely.

Genomics Minor

The genomics interdisciplinary minor fulfills National Research Council recommendations to provide undergraduates with a strong foundation in biological, mathematical, physical and information sciences. The diverse academic background provided by this interdisciplinary minor in the context of a liberal arts education will help prepare students of all majors for exciting fields such as drug discovery, pharmaceutical industry, biomedical sciences, patent law, and ethics.

Genomic or Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Major

You may also apply for a genomics or bioinformatics major through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Courses You Might Take

BIO 343

In this lab-only course, students participate in a real genome sequencing project (sequencing performed off-site). Students analyze sequences and annotate genes in the genome. This original research is computer intensive and contributes to the growing body of knowledge in genomics.

CSC 209 | BIO 209

This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to computer science and structured programming using the Python programming language in the context of biological datasets and applications, including algorithms for analyzing genomic data.  

PBH 234

Scientific literature suggests that a person食色官网檚 zip code, and not genetic code, is a better predictor of their health. In this course, students will learn to assess the validity of reports on epigenomic phenomena in popular press by identifying relevant primary literature, evaluating experimental design, and interpreting scientific data.

Related Programs

Interested in Studying Genomics at Davidson?