Registration for this module closes July 5. 

Live session timeframe (exact schedule with live sessions will be posted by module instructors prior to the start of the module): Monday: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Pacific (11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern); Tuesday: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Pacific (11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern); Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Pacific (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eastern).

This module emphasizes how the theory and application of transcriptomics can be extended to include other types of omic analysis, and then integrated using statistical and machine learning tools. It starts with the statistical basis of hypothesis testing, covering the central role of normalization strategies and the specifics of differential expression analysis. Students will be given the opportunity to work examples using open source R code that is in standard use for RNASeq data. The module then discusses options for downstream processing by clustering and module detection/comparison; extensions to methylation profiling, proteomics, and metabolomics; eQTL analysis including fine mapping of regulatory variation; and finally integrative methodologies addressing the relationship between genomic, meta-genomic, and phenotypic variation. This module deals primarily with upstream data processing methods that lead to the delineation of networks and pathways. Suggested pairing: modules 2 and 12.

Learning Objectives: After attending this module, participants will be able to:

1. To see how good experimental design is central to being able to extract more inference from gene expression profiling experiments.
2. To know the key features of the open source DESeq, edgeR, and Seurat packages that are commonly used for transcriptomics, while also learning about alternative options.
3. To appreciate the importance of normalization strategies to avoid biases and maximize statistical power to detect biological effects.
4. To understand the principles of eQTL analysis and the computational methods for dissecting regulatory mechanisms by integration with chromatin profiling data.
5. To be prepared to integrate knowledge gained from this module into other Summer Institute modules such as Pathway Analysis, and Advanced Quantitative Genetics.