As bioinformatics represents an array of themes such as genomics, phylogenetic analysis, and molecular modeling, teaching such a course is an interesting and challenging task. This study considered a problem-based case that aimed to cover certain specialized areas including: biological database access and retrieval; sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis. In addition, probe design and in silico PCR-RFLP were also introduced as examples of applications in molecular genetics. While there were many topics to deal with, because they were related, it was possible for them to be taught in the one course. The Genus Bacillus was selected for the study, with students assigned to gather the names of Bacillus species as well as their 16S rRNA sequences, as the use of rRNA genes in determining the phylogenetic relationships among living organisms is now widely accepted, since: they are present in all living organisms; have conserved structures and functions; and they have been collated into a comprehensive database. Based on the nucleotide NCBI database, thirty four
Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 42(4) 695
Bacillus species were selected and their 16S rRNA gene sequences were retrieved by their accession number (Table 1). The 16S rRNA sequences of Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.
bulgaricus and Staphylococcus aureus were also compiled to use for outgroup analysis. These 16S rRNA sequences were then subjected to multiple sequence analysis in which the dendogram was