BMB508: Advanced Molecular Biology

Students taking the course are expected to:

• 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 BB501 Biology from molecule to
  ecosystem (or FF503), and the content of BMB533 Molecular biology and
  protein chemistry.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the
course "Molecular biology and protein chemistry" and gives an academic
basis for studying cell- and molecular processes that are part of the
degree.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give
  knowledge and understanding of how cells in multicellular organisms
  communicates with each other by external ligands, how they pass on this
  information by receptors and signalling pathways and how this modulate
  chromatin structures and gene expression for the control of cell cycle,
  cell growth, cell differentiation and apoptosis. These processes are
  further illustrated by examples of how stem cells are maintained and
  induced for differentiation and how dysregulation of cell signalling
  contributes to the development of cancer.
• Give knowledge and
  understanding of basic methods in molecular and cell biology for the
  study of gene and protein function in human cells 
• Give the
  skills to read and understand literature within biochemistry, molecular
  biology, and biomedicine with the main focus on signal transduction and
  gene regulation.
• Give the competence to comprehend the
  association between genotype and phenotype in human cells and the
  ability to solve biological questions across the course subjects.

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

1. Describe the general architecture of eukaryotic chromosomes and genes 
2. Explain how chromatin structures are regulated and how DNA and histone modifications take part in this process
3. Explain how transcription factors and transcriptional processes regulate gene expression
4. Explain
   how posttranscriptional processes, including RNA modification,
   processing, and alternative splicing are regulated and how they
   contribute to the control gene expression
5. Explain the function and regulation of different types of non-coding RNA
6. 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.
7. Explain how the eukaryotic cell cycle is regulated and the role of checkpoints to maintain genome integrity and stability.
8. Explain how anti-apoptotic and pro-survival signals regulate cell survival and apoptosis
9. Explain
   how proto-oncogens, oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and DNA damage and
   repair factors control normal cell cycle , cell growth and development
   and how changes in these genes/proteins contributes to cancer
   development.
10. Explain how virus and carcinogens might  promote cancer
11. Explain how cell types are specified and how early development of various eukaryotic organisms are regulated 
12. 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. 
13. Apply tools for the analysis and presentation of microscopy images
14. Deduce conclusions based on the interpretation of experimental data 
15. Arguing over options on how to solve complex and transverse biological questions. 

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. Research-based teaching is applied and discussions of selected research topics are encouraged by two symposia with invited speakers. 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, complete the home assignments, work on the laboratory report, and prepare for the exam.