Python for Biologists Lecture Notes

Practice flashcards based on the lecture notes for Python programming course for biologists.

Who is the author of 'Python for Biologists'?

Dr. Martin Jones

Why is programming becoming essential for biologists?

It helps solve biological problems and tasks.

What programming language is recommended in the course?

Python

What is the benefit of using biological examples in programming?

It provides motivation and serves as a library of useful code snippets.

What is a key feature of Python that makes it suitable for beginners?

It has a mostly-consistent syntax, and is designed to be readable.

Name one of the key outcomes of using a biology-specific programming book.

Allows for focus on features useful to biologists.

What does the 'print' function do in Python?

Outputs text to the screen.

What are comments used for in Python code?

To annotate or explain code to make it more understandable.

What are error messages in programming?

Notifications that indicate something went wrong in the code.

What are variables in Python?

Named storage locations that hold data.

How is a string defined in computer programming?

As a sequence of characters.

What is a list in Python?

A collection that can hold multiple items.

What is the purpose of loops in programming?

To repeat a set of instructions multiple times.

Why are functions useful in programming?

They allow code to be reused and help organize complex processes.

What is a conditional statement?

A statement that enables decision making in programs.

What is the importance of indentation in Python?

It defines the structure and flow of the code.

What are regular expressions used for?

To search for patterns in strings.

How do you create a dictionary in Python?

Using curly brackets and defining key-value pairs.

What method do you use to access a value from a dictionary?

By using square brackets with the corresponding key.

What does the 'import' statement do?

Loads a module for specialized functions in Python.

How can user input be captured in Python?

Using the input() function.

What are command line arguments?

Strings provided when running a program to specify options.

What is the purpose of the shutil module?

To perform file operations like copying or moving files.