
BMB508: Advanced Molecular Biology
Comment
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
- 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).
Course introduction
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the course BMB533 ‘Molecular biology and protein chemistry’, BMB544 ‘Fundamental cell biology’, and BMB546 ‘Cellular evolution’ and gives an academic basis for studying advanced 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:
Knowledge
- knowledge of theory and experimental methods within the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology
- knowledge of key topics within theory of science
- knowledge of the scientific terminology used in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology
- the ability to understand how scientific knowledge is obtained through interaction between theory and experiment
- the ability to acquire new knowledge efficiently and independently and the ability to apply this knowledge reflectively
- knowledge of the safety aspects of laboratory work
- understanding that the approach to the key topics and methods of the field is independent of national borders
Skills
- apply one or more biochemical and molecular biological theories and methods
- investigate concrete biochemical and molecular biological phenomena theoretically and/or experimentally
- apply select techniques within the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology and spectroscopy
Competences
- enter into academic and interdisciplinary collaborations with a professional approach based on experience with group-based project work
Expected learning outcome
- 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.
Content
- DNA, chromosomes, and genomes
- Genome stability
- Control of gene expression
- Post-transcriptional gene regulation and Noncoding RNAs.
- Tools for analysing cells, DNA, RNA, protein, and biological systems.
- Visualizing cells
- Cell signalling
- The cell cycle
- Cell death
- Cancer
- Stem cell and tissue renewal
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element b)
Timing
Tests
Written examination
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Duration
Examination aids
The exam is with limited aids. Only the following aids are allowed:
- language translation dictionaries (e.g. Danish/English, Danish/German etc) in "ordbogsprogrammet" (the dictionary programme) from http://www.ordbogen.com/ in electronic form. The browser version is not allowed. See the complete list of which dictionaries are allowed in the separate "Instruction to ordbogen dot com". All dictionaries other than the allowed dictionaries must be switched off in “ordbogsprogrammet” (the dictionary programme).
ECTS value
Exam element a)
Timing
Tests
Group report on laboratory exercises
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
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.
Teacher responsible
Name | Department | |
---|---|---|
Jan-Wilhelm Kornfeld | janwilhelmkornfeld@bmb.sdu.dk | Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi |
Additional teachers
Name | Department | City | |
---|---|---|---|
Kumar Somyajit | ksom@sdu.dk | Funktionelle Genomiske Studier og Metabolisme | Odense |
Rasmus Siersbæk | siersbaek@bmb.sdu.dk | Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi | Odense |
Susanne Mandrup | s.mandrup@bmb.sdu.dk | Funktionelle Genomiske Studier og Metabolisme | Odense |