Short Topic Summary: for + if / else (R)

This repository contains beginner-level teaching material for bioinformatics students who are learning R programming, with a specific focus on control structures.

The content focuses on:

• for loops
• if / else conditional statements
• Using control structures together
• Applying these concepts to simple biological examples

The material is designed to be clear, minimal, and pedagogically consistent with introductory bioinformatics curricula (e.g., YBVA).

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Contents

This material covers the following topics:

1. for Loops

• Iterating over vectors
• Accessing elements one by one
• Storing results in vectors
• Everyday-life analogies for loops

2. if / else Statements

• Logical conditions (TRUE / FALSE)
• Single and multiple conditions
• Decision-making in code

3. Combining for + if / else

• Classifying numerical data
• Making decisions for each element in a dataset

4. Biological Examples

All examples are intentionally simple and explicit, avoiding advanced R functions.

Examples include:

• DNA nucleotide inspection (GC vs AT)
• GC content calculation using counters
• Simple motif detection (e.g., start codon ATG)
• Enzyme activity at different temperatures

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Target Audience

This repository is intended for:

• Undergraduate bioinformatics and biotechnology students
• Students new to R programming
• Instructors looking for simple teaching examples
• Anyone learning control flow with biological context

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Technologies

• R
• R Markdown (.Rmd)
• Output formats: HTML and PDF

No external packages are required.

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Files

• Short Topic Summary: for + if / else.Rmd — The source document
• Short Topic Summary: for + if / else.pdf — Compiled PDF output

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Educational Philosophy

This project follows a step-by-step and learner-centered approach:

• No advanced or previously unseen R functions are used
• All logic is built gradually and clearly
• Emphasis is placed on understanding how the computer processes instructions
• Biological meaning is explained alongside programming logic

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Online Version

You can read the material online here:
https://oguzhanisilay8.github.io/Short-Topic-Summary-for-if-else/

License

This project is released under the MIT License.

You are free to use, modify, and share this material for educational purposes.

Author

Oğuzhan Işılay
Undergraduate Student in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
Mersin University, Türkiye

GitHub: https://github.com/oguzhanisilay8
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/o%C4%9Fuzhan-i%C5%9F%C4%B1lay-3a793a348/