In this stream we will identify and characterize genes and gene families involved in the adaptation of spider mites to their plant hosts. Spider mites, including the two species the Clark laboratory studies, are arthropod animals that consume plant tissues and cause substantial agricultural damage. The species the laboratory studies are also emerging model species to more broadly understand the biology of mites and ticks that impact human health and well-being in diverse ways (for instance, many ticks transmit diseases among animals and humans). In this stream students will learn how to annotate genes in genomes, examine patterns of gene expression, and test hypotheses about the types of genes that are involved in mite-plant interactions and/or other aspects of spider mite biology. Students completing the stream will have an introductory-level understanding of bioinformatics, genomics, and the basics of computer programming and data science applicable to many subdisciplines of biology including the medical sciences. While students with prior experience in coding are welcome, prior experience is not required.