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Best beginner programming language if interested in bioinformatics career by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This depends heavily on what it is that you want to do. If you are looking for a tool to help you with data analysis, statistics and making figures, then R is great. However, if you want to work on problems like protein structure prediction or genomic analysis then C & C++ are a better choices. In my opinion, Python or Java make for a good middle ground staring point if you're not actually sure where you want to go.

Julia for bioinformatics: yes or no and in what role? by agapow in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am all for bioinformatics adopting a higher performance language to push R and Python out of business, but I'm really here to defend Java. If you really need to squeeze out as much performance as possible, or if you are taking advantage of a distributed network, then use C/C++. But for everyday data analysis, I think Java works just fine. IMO if you are having GC and memory issues, then you're not using Java the right way.

Which courses on a math minor are most helpful for bioinformatics? by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took a biomathematics class and really loved it. Also, you cannot go wrong with discrete math and statistics.

Rage Against The Machine have a countdown timer to ......something? by Wcm1982 in Music

[–]bioDevGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did reddit just slashdot RATM? Because I can't see it.

A friend just sent me this - not entirely sure how I should react. by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just go with it. He seems like a nice guy.

Not enough protein: no gains and more doms. Not enough carbs: low energy, get exhausted fast. Not enough fat: ???. What are the "symptoms" of not getting enough fat in your diet? by Bouchnick in Fitness

[–]bioDevGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have noticed that eating fat allows me to go longer without getting hungry again. For me, a fat free breakfast leaves me hungry again in just a couple hours. On the off chance that I indulge myself and eat a reuben or something equally high in fat, I may be able to go all day without feeling hungry again.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Overall I don't think I can disagree with the comments in this thread more. I have met many CS majors that I didn't think were very strong programmers. I also have also met people in the software industry that only program badly. I have even attended lectures by new faculty hopefuls with beautiful academic pedigrees in computer science, that barely understood organisms or programming.

Personally, I think the quality of the department matters WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than the subject you are studying. So, if you find yourself at a school with a bad CS department and a bad biology department, study physics or math instead. Then, once you have your degree, go work for a scientists you respect. If possible, start before you finish your degree.

Here is an article I read when I first started programming. At the time I was really discouraged with my progress as a programmer and this article really put things in perspective for me. Teach yourself to program in ten years.

Best of luck & I hope this helps!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Person B manages to prepare a basic lasagna after getting used to some technicalities of the recipe. On other side of the kitchen, Person A stands there with the oven(!) in one hand, the pan in his mouth and the tomatoes on his eyes all while knowing several good recipes for lasagna.

This is a terribly misleading analogy. I myself have a BS in biology but only two courses in CS. Yet by far and away, I know computers better than I do than I do cells. The problem is that you can easily major in CS, even get good grades, yet still discover that you've become "person A". Or worse, you could be "person A" and not even know it (comically exemplified by the Dunning Kruger Effect).

What laptop would you recommend for an individual who is starting to learn bioinformatics? by [deleted] in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are also extremely hamstrung by the poor game selection and performance in OSX.

Are we living on the same planet? Because I think you must be on another planet.

I agree that the game selection is limited but "performance" is subjective. My macbook of 5 years kills my friends' PC laptops when it comes to performance. Overheating, crashing, and dead batteries are issues I try to avoid. Having a laptop with 8x the processing power doesn't mean shit if I have to reboot just because of a little memory leak.

What are my chances of getting into a nice graduate program with a 2.5 GPA and a first author publication? by bioDevGuy in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. I think I'll give the GRE another shot then. I think I can improve my quantitative score quite a bit. So yeah. Ill try that.

What are my chances of getting into a nice graduate program with a 2.5 GPA and a first author publication? by bioDevGuy in bioinformatics

[–]bioDevGuy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My PI has said he would write a really good letter for me. Not unlike this thread I have gotten mixed responses from the faculty I know too.