4273π: bioinformatics education on low cost ARM hardware.
BACKGROUND
Teaching bioinformatics at universities is complicated by typical computer classroom settings. As well as running software locally and online, students should gain experience of systems administration. For a future career in biology or bioinformatics, the installation of software is a useful skill. We propose that this may be taught by running the course on GNU/Linux running on inexpensive Raspberry Pi computer hardware, for which students may be granted full administrator access.


RESULTS
We release 4273π, an operating system image for Raspberry Pi based on Raspbian Linux. This includes minor customisations for classroom use and includes our Open Access bioinformatics course, 4273π Bioinformatics for Biologists. This is based on the final-year undergraduate module BL4273, run on Raspberry Pi computers at the University of St Andrews, Semester 1, academic year 2012-2013.


CONCLUSIONS
4273π is a means to teach bioinformatics, including systems administration tasks, to undergraduates at low cost.
Sir Harold Mitchell Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK. db60@st-andrews.ac.uk
Daniel
D
Barker
David Ek
DE
Ferrier
Peter Wh
PW
Holland
John Bo
JB
Mitchell
Heleen
H
Plaisier
Michael G
MG
Ritchie
Steven D
SD
Smart
D001695:Biology / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D003201:Computers / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D012984:Software; D013334:Students; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000191:economics; D013782:Textbooks as Topic; D014495:Universities