English

FY510: Biology at the interface (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07001001

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible

Email: ogm@memphys.sdu.dk

Timetable

Group	Type	Day	Time	Classroom	Weeks
Common	I	Tuesday	12-14	U17	13-14,17
Common	I	Wednesday	14-16	Memphys	6
Common	I	Friday	10-12	U17	6
Common	I	Friday	12-14	U11	9-10
H1	TE	Tuesday	12-14	U17	7,11,16,18-19
H1	TE	Friday	10-12	U17	8,12

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Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

reason and think logically
be able to carry out dimensional analysis, order-of –magnitude considerations and simple calculations without aid of electronic devices.
Have interest in and general knowledge about natural sciences on a level corresponding to one yoer of university studies.
One year of university-level studies within natural sciences.

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to enable the student 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

These aims are all of importance in all fields of natural sciences and pharmacy.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses in the first, possibly the second year of study of natural sciences, including pharmacy, and gives an academic basis for studying the topics […], that are part of the degree.

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

know some the most important physical and physico-chemical techniques and concepts to characterize interfaces in biological systems.
know selected, specific applications of these techniques and concepts within biophysics, biochemistry, pharmacy, nanotechnology and biomedicine.

Expected learning outcome
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.

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

Mouritsen & Bagatolli: Life-As a Met-ter of Fat. Lipids in a Biophysics Per-spective, Springer, New York (2016). 298pp..

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

Written repport. Graded according to the 7-point grading scale, internal censorship. (5 ECTS). (07001002).

A closer description of the exam rules will be posted under 'Course Information' on Blackboard.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 14 hours
Skills training phase: 14 hours, hereof:
- Tutorials: 14 hours
- Laboratory exercises: 4 hours

Educational activities

Lectures
Seminars
Exercises
Lab visits
Student project
Student presentations

Educational form
The different sub-phases described above are planned to progess and be intertwined in a manner to provide a coherent package of the elements form concepts and methods, to phenomena and systems, to fundamental science insights as well as technological applications.

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.