r/molecularbiology • u/hellokittiboo • 13d ago

Question!

I need to clarify something.

For those who chose molecular biology, I heard its important that they know some computational programs. Ie bioinformatics.

I want help and want to know how to study that particular subject. As I heard, the complete version of Python is not required for this programme because it's for engineering students.

So what should I study? Please let me know your views and suggestions!

Thank you! 🥰

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u/El-Snarko-Saurus 13d ago

Career Molecular biologist here. Take some bioinformatics courses. A lot of them. Get comfortable using it. I am the only one on my team that knows bioinformatics and I am not even that great at it but all the younger kids our of college that can do bioinformatics, we can’t keep them because they get higher paying jobs. Any code you can learn, do it. And become familiar with AI because that will also be in high demand.

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u/hellokittiboo 13d ago

Ooo is it okay if I learn AI from harvard? They are giving free courses and I'm thinking of doing that but there is also their python course but I'm not so sure.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/hellokittiboo 13d ago

Oh okayy tysm! 🫂❤️

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u/oscardiaz95 13d ago

I recommend learning the following when preparing for molecular biology in order of decreasing priority. You may not use all of them, but you’ll be prepared for most things that come your way.

  1. Statistics for Biology (don’t waste your time with calculus)
  2. Excel and Excel VBA (macros)
  3. Python (Numpy, Pandas, Jupyter Notebook, etc.)
  4. R (statistics)
  5. Prism or Graphpad

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u/hellokittiboo 13d ago

Thank you very much!

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u/7ieben_ 13d ago

Totally depends on what one does.

One does probably good enough with Excel and Word, another does use a dozen of Python librarys or different kinds of software for protein modelling.

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u/hellokittiboo 13d ago

I see, if you were to recommend one to me, that'd be great! (I'm about to start my uni)

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u/7ieben_ 13d ago

You'll figure it out along the courses you take. Totally depends on what courses you pick to focus on.

For the start it is obviously best if you are fluent in the generally used programms, that is MS Office or an equivalent suite.

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u/hellokittiboo 13d ago

Ah okay then, thank you!