LOCALE: Online at Bioinformatics.Org
DATES: November 5-9, 2007

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been correlated with mitochondrial diseases where the clinical pathologies are believed to include infertility, diabetes, blindness, deafness, stroke, migraine and heart-, kidney-, and liver diseases. Recently cancer was added to this list when investigations into human cancer cells from breast, bladder, neck, and lung, revealed a high occurrence of mutations in mtDNA. With the emerging understanding of the role of mitochondria in a vast array of pathologies, research of mitochondria and mitochondrial dysfunction have in the last decade yielded a huge amount of data in form of publications and databases. Nevertheless, the field of mitochondrial research is still far from exhausted with many unknown factors yet to be discovered.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the various databases and wet-lab methods available. Furthermore, the course will, through selected articles, give an understanding of the pitfalls and limitations of the various databases and methods.

COURSE OUTLINE

Day 1: Introduction to mitochondria and its pathways, genetics; proteomics of mitochondria

Day 2: Various assays used and advances in mitochondrial research

Day 3: Tools and databases used in mitochondrial research; exercises

Day 4: Exercises, report, review of literature continues

Day 5: Summary and questions and answers; evaluation

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please visit: http://wiki.bioinformatics.org/BI221A_Mitochondriomics