BMB508: Advanced Molecular Biology

• Have knowledge of basic terms within biochemistry and molecular biology.
• Be able to use the scientific approach to conduct experiments and to interpret experimental data.
• To be familiar with the content of BMB544: Fundamental cell biology (5 ECTS) and the content of BMB533: Molecular biology and protein chemistry (10 ECTS).

• Explain the general architecture of eukaryotic chromosomes and genes. 
• Explain how chromatin structures are regulated and how DNA and histone modifications take part in this process.
• Explain how transcription factors and transcriptional processes regulate gene expression.
• Explain how post-transcriptional processes, including RNA modification, processing, miRNA regulation and alternative splicing are regulated and how they contribute to the control gene expression.
• Explain the function and regulation of different types of non-coding RNAs.
• Explain how different classes of membrane bound receptors are activated, how signals are transduced from the membrane to the cell nucleus, and how signals are integrated to control gene expression and cell fate.
• Explain how the eukaryotic cell cycle is regulated and the role of checkpoints to maintain genome integrity and stability.
• Explain how anti-apoptotic and pro-survival signals regulate cell survival and apoptosis.
• Explain how proto-oncogenes, oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and DNA damage and repair factors control normal cell cycle, cell growth and development and how changes in these genes/proteins contribute to cancer development.
• Explain the key hallmarks of cancer development and progression, and describe therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer progression.
• Explain how cell types are specified and how early development of various eukaryotic organisms are regulated. 
• Explain the basic principles of methods for the analysis of gene and protein function based on knockout cells or transgenic model organisms, genome sequencing, and visualization of proteins within cells. 
• Apply tools for the analysis and presentation of microscopy images.
• Deduce conclusions based on the interpretation of experimental data.

At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.
These teaching activities are reflected in an estimated allocation of the workload of an average student as follows:

• Intro phase (lectures) - 40 hours
• Training phase: 40 hours
  

The intro-phase comprises lectures that provide a thorough introduction to the course subjects and where a dialogue with the students is stimulated by questions, quizzes and polls. Research-based teaching is applied, and discussions of selected research topics are encouraged by two symposia with invited speakers from industry and basic research groups. The lectures aim at facilitating and motivating the students to read the study book independently with the purpose of strengthening their competences.

The training-phase expands on the acquired competences by class teaching using home assignments that cover the main statement of aims for the course. During the laboratory exercises, the students work independently in groups of 2-4 on predesigned experiments and data interpretation. The exercises focus on cell visualization in relation to cell cycle, apoptosis and cancer and thereby provide first-hand knowledge of the structure and function of cells, which help and motivate the students to read the study book independently.

During the study-phase it is expected that the students independently study the course book, read the additional literature provided in the lectures and practical exercises, complete the home assignments, work on the laboratory report, and prepare for the exam.