Database Development and Applications in Biology

Objectives

Introduce the fundamental concepts inherent to the development of relational databases aiming to support the implementation of transactional systems. This curricular unit places great emphasis on a theoretical structuring of knowledge combined with the provision of extensive practical experience based on the use of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and data modeling tools. In practical cases, particular emphasis will be placed on data modeling, information extraction, and business rulemaking in functional contexts within Bioinformatics. This course should provide students with the skills of structuring information as well as using the SQL language for querying databases and programming business rules.

General characterization

Code

12505

Credits

3.0

Responsible teacher

Jorge Nelson Gouveia Sousa Neves

Hours

Weekly - 2

Total - 28

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

Abraham Silberschatz, Henry F. Korth and S. Sudarshan, Database System Concepts - 7th ed., McGraw-hill, 2021
Thomas M. Connolly and Carolyn E. Begg, Database Systems: a Practical Approach to Design,
Implementation, and Management, Addison-Wesley, Pearce Education Limited, 2010

Teaching method

The course unit is organized in theoretical classes and practical classes, equally distributed throughout the semester. The slides and the writing on the board are the main pedagogical instruments used in theoretical classes, although in some cases the installations are integrated with the use of more sophisticated technologies such as graphic or multimedia interfaces. Practical exercises using modeling software and DBMS exploration software will be the main pedagogical tools used in practical classes. A substantial part of the practical classes will be devoted to group work.

Evaluation method

The evaluation is obtained by a weighted average between the average grade obtained in a set of assessments during the semester (30%), a group work (30%), as well as a final exam (40%).

Subject matter

Introduction
- Databases and database management systems
- Database design.
- SQL.

Database Design
- The Entity-Relationship model
- The Relational model
- Transformation from conceptual to physical data models

Normalization
- Normal Forms (1, 2 and 3)
- Functional dependency
- Closure
- Keys and superkeys
- Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)

SQL Fundamentals
- SQL syntax and basic commands
- Retrieving data from a database using SELECT statements
- Using aggregate functions

Intermediate SQL
- Joining tables
- Using subqueries
- Manipulating data with INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements

Advanced SQL
- SQL Programming
- Constraints
- Functions, Stored Procedures and Triggers
- Creating and using views
- Transactions
- Indices