Practical Python for beginners: a Biochemist’s guide

An increase in the complexity and scale of biochemical data has created many opportunities for biochemists to exploit data visualisation, modelling and machine learning methods in knowledge discovery. Leveraging such power requires at least some coding which can be a daunting prospect for many biochemists. Practical Python for beginners: a Biochemist's guide aims to teach the core skills which underlie the application of Python to complex, real-world research problems.

Following the course, the successful learner will be able to:

• Explain the rationale for scripting
• Use the IPython command line as a calculator and to assign variables
• Use the basic data types and some simple functions
• Create lists and select elements from them
• Explain what a library is, import a Python library and use functions it contains
• Read biochemical data from a file into a Python
• Understand computing concepts such as what is meant by the working directory, absolute and relative paths and be able to apply these concepts to data import
• Analyse and visualise biochemical data using powerful Python packages such as NumPy, Pandas, Sklearn and Matplotlib

No prior coding experience is required to enrol, and learners will have the opportunity to interact with each other and with the Lead Educator and with course moderators. The course moderators will reply to your comments and queries for the first five weeks from the course launch date. After this time, the interaction with the course moderators won't be available but you'll be able to access the course for a year from its launch date.

Each module contains code demos, theory, exercises and quizzes to help support learning, with the Lead Educator responding to learner comments for the first 5 weeks.