Introduction

Introduction
Building on the recognition of the importance of information transmission, accumulation and processing in Building on the recognition of the importance of information transmission, accumulation and processing in biological systems, in 1970 Paulien Hogeweg, coined the term “Bioinformatics” to refer to the study of information processes in biotic systems.This definition placed bioinformatics as a field parallel to biophysics (the study of physical processes in biological systems) or biochemistry (the study of chemical processes in biological systems). Examples of relevant biological information processes studied in the early days of bioinformatics are the formation of complex social interaction structures by simple behavioral rules, and the information accumulation and maintenance in models of prebiotic evolution.

Mission Statement
To train the next generation professionals to gain advanced knowledge in Bioinformatics that is required to design and implement novel methods which can be useful to define and solve problems with emphasis on acquisition, representation, retrieval, visualization and analysis of biological data.

Programme Objectives
At the end of four years BS programme, the graduates should be able to understand:
1. Gene and protein sequence acquisition, storage, retrieval and analysis
2. Protein structure and function relationship using computational tools
3. Development of computational applications for processing of biological data.
4. Modeling and simulation of biological systems.

Learning outcomes
At the completion of this programme, students are expected to know the relationship between genes and proteins and use of computers in handling flood of biological data which started with the completion of Human Genome project. Bioinformatics is now an established discipline in the main stream of Biology and is a key to unlock the information coded in genome, transcriptome and proteome. Being a multidisciplinary field, it has diversified applications in domains like drug designing, agriculture biotechnology and system biology.

Duration:
Four years programme spread over 8 semesters, two semesters per year.

Total Credit Hours:
A total of 124-136 credit hours are required to complete Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics.

Eligibility:
FSc Pre-Engineering, Intermediate in Computer Science.

Equivalent:
to MA/M.Sc (16 years education), For uniformity in the evaluation system, HEC recommends that the minimum CGPA required for award of degree is 2.5 out of 4.0 at undergraduate level subject to meet all requirements of the university.