Work with Ensembl to master the Ensembl REST API and flexibly access genome-wide data, such as genes, variants, homologues and alignments.

Who is this course for?

Bioinformaticians and wet-lab biologists who can program in Perl, Python or R.

What will I learn?

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Synthesise the data types accessible through the Ensembl REST API
• Understand the methods in the Ensembl REST API
• Navigate the Ensembl REST API documentation to find available methods
• Write Python/R scripts to access data via the Ensembl REST API

Course content

The Ensembl Plants REST API workshop is aimed at researchers and developers working with plant genomes and interested in exploring Ensembl Plants beyond the website. The workshop covers how to work with the Ensembl REST APIs using plant examples, including understanding the major endpoints and how to write Python/R scripts to call them. It is important to note that this course will not introduce you to the Ensembl Plants browser and data types or provide an introduction to programming in Python or R. Proficiency in Python or R and attendance at an Ensembl Plants browser workshop are required to register for the REST API course.

During this course you will learn about:

• Introduction to Ensembl: Data models, features
• The Ensembl REST API, navigate documentation
• Overview of REST and functional groupings
• Accessing genomic regions (slices), genes, transcripts and translations
• Accessing genomic variants, their alleles and allele frequencies, genotypes and phenotypes
• Accessing gene trees and homologues

Feedback from previous courses:

"Well organised lectures and exercises, starting from begineers level to increased difficulty" API workshop, Amity University, September 2019

"The course was very well organized and scripts were explained really well. Instructor had very good knowledge " API workshop, Sde Boker, February 2020

If you think you'd like to host a similar course at your institute, you can find out more on the Ensembl workshops page.

Trainers

Attendance at this workshop is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please complete the online application form to register.