Lesson 15

This module discussed Perl's different types of variables and data.
You have learned how to write programs with

1. scalars,
2. arrays, and
3. hashes

and how to access the data in those different data types.
In the next module, you will learn about the different operators available for working with data. This is where you will learn to do the following:

1. Manipulate text and numbers
2. Test the relative values of different data
3. Read and write files

You can write Perl programs that manipulate biological sequence data, that is, DNA and proteins. Once you have the sequences in the computer, you will start writing programs that do the following with the sequence data:

1. Transcribe DNA to RNA
2. Concatenate sequences
3. Make the reverse complement of sequences
4. Read sequence data from files

You will also write programs that give information about your sequences.

1. How GC-rich is your DNA?
2. How hydrophobic is your protein?

You will see programming techniques you can use to answer these and similar questions. The Perl skills you will learn in the next module involve the basics of the language. Here are some of those basics:

1. Scalar variables
2. Array variables
3. String operations such as substitution and translation
4. Reading data from files

Before you move on to the next module, make sure to click the Quiz link below to take a multiple-choice quiz that has questions addressing all of the lessons discussed in this module.
Perl Variable - Quiz