BMB822: Modern trends and technologies in molecular cell biology (15 ECTS)

STADS: 01010901

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: bab@bmb.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
mrl@bmb.sdu.dk
bhk@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
A Bachelor´s degree in BMB, Biomedicine or equivalent study programme.

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

Have knowledge of protein chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology, e.g. as taught in the courses Protein Chemistry (BMB506), Advanced Molecular Biology (BMB508) Metabolic and Hormonal regulation (BMB505), Fundamental Microbiology (BMB507) and Biomedical Microbiology (BMB510).

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the main research areas at BMB, including the latest developments related to the topics: RNA biology, cell signaling and differentiation as well as with various -omics technologies. This is important in regard to:

• obtaining knowledge of theories and experimental methods based on the highest international research in biochemistry and molecular biology of the key areas listed above
• obtaining knowledge of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology and their interfaces to modern technology, health and environment

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses Protein Chemistry (BMB506), Advanced Molecular Biology (BMB508) Metabolic and Hormonal regulation (BMB505), Fundamental Microbiology (BMB507) and Biomedical Microbiology (BMB510) and provides an academic basis for performing Master´s project at BMB.

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

• Give the competence and skills to analyse and evaluate primary research in the fields of RNA biology, cell signaling and differentiation and -omics technologies through critical reviewing of original articles.
• Give skills to communicate research based knowledge, to identify and discuss scientific problems
• Give knowledge and understanding of the biological research areas at BMB as well as the technologies that are being used and developed at the institute.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Identify and analyse links across research areas at BMB.
• Assess and reflect on the use of methods and relevant model systems to study specific biological problems.
• Define own theories, hypotheses and experimental approaches for addressing specific biological questions in RNA biology, cell signaling and differentiation and -omics areas.

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

• RNA biology: impact on health and disease.
• Post-transcriptional regulation in different organisms - from bacteria to humans.
• Methods and techniques in RNA biology, including RNA sequencing and RNA interference.
• Principles of eukaryotic cell signaling and cellular differentiation.
• Post-translational regulation of cell signaling and differentiation.
• Aberrant signaling processes in human diseases.
• Methods and techniques in various aspects of cell signaling and differentiation, including "genome-wide sequencing techniques" and mass spectrometry-based -omics techniques.

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None.

Assessment and marking:

1. Presentation and discussion of research papers, formulation and elucidation of scientific questions (tutorials). Evaluated by the theacher on a pass/fail basis. 5 ECTS
2. Individual written project, evaluated by internal censorship by the Danish 7-mark scale. 10 ECTS

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 36 hours
Skills training phase: 36 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 36 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 303 hours
Educational form
There are 303 hours allocated to the study phase, including project supervision hours by the teachers. Activities during the study phase:

• Individual activity – reading scientific literature, including primary research articles and reviews.
• Individual activity – writing short report on specific research topic in form of small literature review/discussion.
• Group activities – presentation and discussion of research articles, formulation and elucidation of scientific questions.

Language
This course is taught in English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.