Difference between revisions of "BIN-Abstractions"

From "A B C"
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
m
Line 28: Line 28:
 
== Abstract ==
 
== Abstract ==
 
<section begin=abstract />
 
<section begin=abstract />
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "abstract" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "abstract" -->
 
This unit comprises introductory notes on the nature of abstractions with an example from the art of tying ties. We review typical abstractions for biology and discuss options for structuring labels and relationships.
 
This unit comprises introductory notes on the nature of abstractions with an example from the art of tying ties. We review typical abstractions for biology and discuss options for structuring labels and relationships.
 
<section end=abstract />
 
<section end=abstract />
Line 37: Line 37:
 
== This unit ... ==
 
== This unit ... ==
 
=== Prerequisites ===
 
=== Prerequisites ===
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "prerequisites" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "prerequisites" -->
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "notes-external_prerequisites" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "notes-external_prerequisites" -->
 
You need the following preparation before beginning this unit. If you are not familiar with this material from courses you took previously, you need to prepare yourself from other information sources:
 
You need the following preparation before beginning this unit. If you are not familiar with this material from courses you took previously, you need to prepare yourself from other information sources:
<!-- included from "FND-prerequisites.wtxt", section: "biomolecules" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_prerequisites.txt", section: "biomolecules" -->
 
*<b>Biomolecules</b>: The molecules of life; nucleic acids and amino acids; the genetic code; protein folding; post-translational modifications and protein biochemistry; membrane proteins; biological function.
 
*<b>Biomolecules</b>: The molecules of life; nucleic acids and amino acids; the genetic code; protein folding; post-translational modifications and protein biochemistry; membrane proteins; biological function.
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "notes-prerequisites" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "notes-prerequisites" -->
 
You need to complete the following units before beginning this one:
 
You need to complete the following units before beginning this one:
 
*[[ABC-BIN-Preparation|ABC-BIN-Preparation (Bioinformatics Course Preparation)]]
 
*[[ABC-BIN-Preparation|ABC-BIN-Preparation (Bioinformatics Course Preparation)]]
Line 52: Line 52:
  
 
=== Objectives ===
 
=== Objectives ===
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "objectives" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "objectives" -->
 
This unit will ...
 
This unit will ...
 
* ... introduce the concept of an "abstraction", as applied to making concepts about biology computable;
 
* ... introduce the concept of an "abstraction", as applied to making concepts about biology computable;
Line 62: Line 62:
  
 
=== Outcomes ===
 
=== Outcomes ===
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "outcomes" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "outcomes" -->
 
After working through this unit you ...
 
After working through this unit you ...
 
* ... can describe what the purpose of an abstraction is;
 
* ... can describe what the purpose of an abstraction is;
Line 74: Line 74:
  
 
=== Deliverables ===
 
=== Deliverables ===
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "deliverables" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "deliverables" -->
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "deliverables-time_management" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "deliverables-time_management" -->
 
*<b>Time management</b>: Before you begin, estimate how long it will take you to complete this unit. Then, record in your course journal: the number of hours you estimated, the number of hours you worked on the unit, and the amount of time that passed between start and completion of this unit.
 
*<b>Time management</b>: Before you begin, estimate how long it will take you to complete this unit. Then, record in your course journal: the number of hours you estimated, the number of hours you worked on the unit, and the amount of time that passed between start and completion of this unit.
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "deliverables-journal" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "deliverables-journal" -->
 
*<b>Journal</b>: Document your progress in your [[FND-Journal|Course Journal]]. Some tasks may ask you to include specific items in your journal. Don't overlook these.
 
*<b>Journal</b>: Document your progress in your [[FND-Journal|Course Journal]]. Some tasks may ask you to include specific items in your journal. Don't overlook these.
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "deliverables-insights" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "deliverables-insights" -->
 
*<b>Insights</b>: If you find something particularly noteworthy about this unit, make a note in your [[ABC-Insights|'''insights!''' page]].
 
*<b>Insights</b>: If you find something particularly noteworthy about this unit, make a note in your [[ABC-Insights|'''insights!''' page]].
 
{{Vspace}}
 
 
 
=== Evaluation ===
 
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "evaluation" -->
 
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "eval-none" -->
 
<b>Evaluation: NA</b><br />
 
:This unit is not evaluated for course marks.
 
  
 
{{Vspace}}
 
{{Vspace}}
Line 97: Line 88:
 
<div id="BIO">
 
<div id="BIO">
 
== Contents ==
 
== Contents ==
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "contents" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "contents" -->
  
 
{{Task|1=
 
{{Task|1=
Line 128: Line 119:
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "notes" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "notes" -->
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "notes" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "notes" -->
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
Line 138: Line 129:
 
<div id="ABC-unit-framework">
 
<div id="ABC-unit-framework">
 
== Self-evaluation ==
 
== Self-evaluation ==
<!-- included from "../components/BIN-Abstractions.components.wtxt", section: "self-evaluation" -->
+
<!-- included from "./components/BIN-Abstractions.components.txt", section: "self-evaluation" -->
 
<!--
 
<!--
 
=== Question 1===
 
=== Question 1===
Line 163: Line 154:
  
  
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "ABC-unit_ask" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "ABC-unit_ask" -->
  
 
----
 
----
Line 191: Line 182:
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
[[Category:ABC-units]]
 
[[Category:ABC-units]]
<!-- included from "ABC-unit_components.wtxt", section: "ABC-unit_footer" -->
+
<!-- included from "./data/ABC-unit_components.txt", section: "ABC-unit_footer" -->
  
 
{{CC-BY}}
 
{{CC-BY}}

Revision as of 01:12, 6 January 2018

Abstractions for Bioinformatics


 

Keywords:  Introduction to nature of abstractions; examples; abstractions for biology; structuring abstractions: controlled vocabularies and ontologies.


 



 


 


Abstract

This unit comprises introductory notes on the nature of abstractions with an example from the art of tying ties. We review typical abstractions for biology and discuss options for structuring labels and relationships.


 


This unit ...

Prerequisites

You need the following preparation before beginning this unit. If you are not familiar with this material from courses you took previously, you need to prepare yourself from other information sources:

  • Biomolecules: The molecules of life; nucleic acids and amino acids; the genetic code; protein folding; post-translational modifications and protein biochemistry; membrane proteins; biological function.

You need to complete the following units before beginning this one:


 


Objectives

This unit will ...

  • ... introduce the concept of an "abstraction", as applied to making concepts about biology computable;
  • ... illustrate with examples;
  • ... discuss principles of how to address issues of uniqueness and structuring of abstractions.


 


Outcomes

After working through this unit you ...

  • ... can describe what the purpose of an abstraction is;
  • ... have encountered common abstractions for bioinformatics;
  • ... are able to come up with examples for "numerically controlled vocabularies" and "synonym constrained vocabularies";
  • ... have thought about an abstraction for a complex biological situation;
  • ... are able to contrast your solution to the canonical approach.


 


Deliverables

  • Time management: Before you begin, estimate how long it will take you to complete this unit. Then, record in your course journal: the number of hours you estimated, the number of hours you worked on the unit, and the amount of time that passed between start and completion of this unit.
  • Journal: Document your progress in your Course Journal. Some tasks may ask you to include specific items in your journal. Don't overlook these.
  • Insights: If you find something particularly noteworthy about this unit, make a note in your insights! page.


 


Contents

Task:

  • Read the introductory notes on "Abstractions" for Bioinformatics.
  • It is common for transcription factors to stimulate or repress the expression of other transcription factors, which in turn act on the expression of more proteins. In addition, proteins that catalyze post-translational modifications can play an important role in such regulation. Assume you would like to store facts about this situation. What abstraction could you design?

More ...

Think about the actors and their roles in this process. Then define what is essential.

The common abstraction for this is a "gene regulatory network", a graph in which the nodes are gene labels and the edges define a relationship that is either activating or repressing. The individual facts are represented as the existence of nodes and edges, and as attributes to nodes and edges. Now ask yourself: can this abstraction represent all types of facts?

Is this abstraction what you came up with? Is your idea different? Better?


 


Further reading, links and resources

 


Notes


 


Self-evaluation

 



 




 

If in doubt, ask! If anything about this learning unit is not clear to you, do not proceed blindly but ask for clarification. Post your question on the course mailing list: others are likely to have similar problems. Or send an email to your instructor.



 

About ...
 
Author:

Boris Steipe <boris.steipe@utoronto.ca>

Created:

2017-08-05

Modified:

2017-09-19

Version:

1.0

Version history:

  • 1.0 Completed to first live version
  • 0.1 First stub

CreativeCommonsBy.png This copyrighted material is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Follow the link to learn more.