BIOL 224 - Artificial Intelligence in Biology and Medicine: An Introduction

Introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning with a focus on how to apply them to solve problems in biology and medicine. This class will familiarize you with a broad cross-section of models and algorithms from AI and machine learning. Applications will focus on problems from biology, genomics, medicine and healthcare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a field of research has existed since at least the 1950s. After initial enthusiasm, the gains of early years slowed, and AI entered what has been referred to as an AI winter. Modern computing hardware, rapid growth in data collection and availability, and advances in algorithms have renewed interest in AI and revolutionized the field. AI is rapidly becoming ubiquitous in daily life and in diverse academic fields. This course will examine the applications of AI with particular focus on applications in biology. We will address the topics of what AI is, how intelligent computers really are and may become, where limitations still exist, and how AI technologies can be used to advance biological research. The course will attempt to provide sufficient background and foundations so that students understand AI algorithms at a conceptual level but will not focus on the mathematical details. This is not a computer science or mathematics course. Classes will have some lectures, though most classes will consist of live coding demos and hands-on exercises. Letter grade. This course may be repeated for credit. (Offered every year.) 3 credits