Designed to be taken in conjunction with the Foundations of Data Science (COMPSCI/INFO/STAT C8) course, each connector course will flesh out data science ideas in the context of one particular field. Blending inferential thinking and computational thinking, the course relies on the increasing availability of datasets across a wide range of human endeavor, and students' natural interest in such data, to teach students to work actively with data in a field of their interest and to interpret and critique their analyses of data. Topics vary by field, and several topics will be offered each term.

Recent years have witnessed a rapid expansion in the creation and utilization of genetic and genomic data across diverse domains such as business, biological research, and medicine. In this Data 8 connector course we will survey relevant questions of interest and employ the methods frequently relied upon by analysts to derive insights from genetic and genomic data. Topics will include the comparison of DNA sequences, dimension reduction, the characterization of transcriptomes, and genome-wide association studies, among others. In addition to hands-on work with data, we will also consider the history of the genetic and genomic sciences and their intersection with current events, ethics, and modern medicine. Students should exit with an understanding of the central role played by data in the fields and an appreciation for the remaining challenges in light of ever-increasing degrees of personalization of, and access to, these sciences. No biological background is required.

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