FY510: Biology at the interface (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07001001

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: ogm@memphys.sdu.dk

Timetable
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Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
General and broad knowledge corresponding to at least two years’ studies within basic sciences or medical sciences.

Course introduction
To provide the students with an understanding of the importance of quantitative, physical and physico-chemical concepts, experimental methods, and theoretical considerations in the description of complex biological interfaces, e.g. in relation to biophysical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, nanotechnological, and biomedical problems and applications.

Expected learning outcome
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

• characterize the most important physical techniques, concepts, and models used to describe biological systems and to account for their strong and weak points
• account for the importance of interfaces in relation to key biomedical systems, problems, and technological applications
• compose and present a talk on a topic within the broad area covered by the course (science students only)

Subject overview
The course combines fundamental concepts and phenomena in modern molecular biology and biomedicine with the use of imaging and micromanipulation techniques to obtain cutting-edge knowledge of current problems, such as self-organization and assembly of biological structures; transport, diffusion and secretion of proteins; mechanical properties of membranes, nuclei, and whole cells; lateral organization of membranes in terms of lipid domains (rafts); traffic inside cells; interaction between lipids and proteins/receptors/enzymes; the role of unsaturated fats and cholesterol for membrane structure, membrane fluidity and permeability; the functioning of ion and water channels; the action of drugs on membranes. Specific topics include: Membrane structure and channel function. Molecular mechanism of anesthesia. Neurotransmitter action. Self-assembly. Energy and forces in biology. Membrane structure and dynamics. Lateral membrane structure: domains, rafts, and function. Lipid-protein interactions. Anti-microbial peptides. Cholesterol in membranes. Membrane fluidity, permeability, and mechanics. The liquid-ordered phase and its relation to rafts. Molecular evolution vs the evolution of species. Molecular biophysics of the living state of matter. Cellular function from the beginning to the end: apoptosis, ceramides, and programmed cell death. Biological imaging. Fluorescence microscopy techniques. Imaging by nano-particles in tissue. Visualization by atomic-force microscopy. Examples: Lung surfactant film; models of the human skin and the dermal barrier. Atomic force spectroscopy. Ligand-receptor interactions. Visit to the fluorescence-microscopy, micromanipulation, and atomic-force laboratories. Soft matter and forces between soft surfaces. Enzymatic action on soft surfaces and membranes. Liposomes for micro- and nano-scale encapsulation and drug delivery. Drug-delivery systems including liposomes. Biomolecular modeling and simulation.

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:
Oral examination based on a project prepared by the candidate, graded according to the 7-point grading scale, internal censorship.

Re-examination in week 9. The examination type at re-examination may differ from the one at the ordinary examination.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 14 hours
Skills training phase: 14 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 12 hours
 - Excursion: 2 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 84 hours

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer. However, if international students participate, the teaching language will always be English.

Remarks
The course is taught jointly to students from the science and medical faculties.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.