General provisions

The course can be taken as a stand-alone course or elective within a program. The course is elective within the Master of Science Program in Pharmacy and the Master's Programme in Drug Discovery and Development.

Entry requirements

150 credits of which 120 credits in biomedicine, pharmaceutical science, chemistry, natural science and/or engineering. Previous studies should include biochemistry or cell biology. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

The course uses basic knowledge in biochemistry/molecular biology as a starting point and aims to extend the student's knowledge on mechanisms for gene regulation in eukaryotic cells.

After finishing the course the student is expected to:

- be able to give examples of and describe different types of mechanisms for gene regulation at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels

- be able to use achieved knowledge to explain how drugs and xenobiotics can influence gene expression

- be able to describe the molecular background of diseases and therapies where effects on gene expression are of importance

- be able to describe different types of methodology used to study gene regulation at different levels and to formulate strategies to apply these to research problems

- have gained knowledge of research in the field of gene regulation, both theoretically and experimentally

- be able to interpret and analyse advanced literature within the cell biology research field.

Content

The course uses current research problems to illustrate different concepts and aspects of gene regulation. Areas covered are: transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation; cell signalling; genetic polymorphism and individual drug response etc. Current research activities and methods in the study of gene regulation are included.

Instruction

Instruction will be given as lectures in English.

Compulsory moments:

Literature work with written and oral presentations.

Assessment

Examination is in the form of a written test at the end of the course. A passing grade on compulsory parts of the course (2 credits) and on the written examination (5,5 credits) are required to pass the course.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

This course substitutes and corresponds to 3FI204 or 3FI004, Biochemistry of Gene Regulation.