Entry requirements

Introduction to biotechnology and bioinformatics 5 credits. Basic chemistry 10 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

- describe the fundamental characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells based on ultrastructure/organisation, biochemistry and genetics

- identify different classes of biomolecules and describe the characteristics of their structure and the basic relation between structure and function

- describe the principles of catalytic ability of macromolecules, the importance of control of those activities and their use in the biotechnical processes

- describe the structural organisation of biological membranes and account for their role in limitation, signal transfer, transport and energy metabolism

- account in general terms for the transformation of energy in living cells and for the use of carrier molecules in transformation of energy

- account for structures and molecular mechanisms that cells use to transport themselves and to transport organelles/macromolecules inside the cell

- explain the principles of gene regulation and the principles of Mendelian genetics, genetic constancy and variation and basic principles of evolution of the genetic material

- carry out simple bioinformatic analyses of the genetic material of organisms

- plan, carry out, analyse and document laboratory work and carry out simple risk and security assessments

- describe and carry out commonly used methods in the biotechnical industry such as purifying and analysing proteins, electrophoresis of biomolecules and basic recombinant DNA technology i.e., restriction endonucleases, DNA-sequencing, PCR-technology

- Describe how to solve basic biotechnical problems with biochemical, cell biological, molecular biological, genetical and bioinformatic methods

- present research results and present and defend independently summaries of basic literature in the field

- explain the chemical/biochemical/cell biological background to everyday biological phenomena and describe the importance of the course contents for man, environment and society

- communicate principles, problems and research results with specialists and non-specialists in questions that lie within the scope of the course

Content

The course gives basic knowledge about the structure and function of cells and biotechnical applications according to basic methods within biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics.

Cell Biology is an interdisciplinary subject, and an important aim of the course is to integrate the fields of biochemistry, molecular cell biology, genetics and energetics.

The course discusses the following subjects:

The chemical composition of the cell. Cell organelles. Evolution from molecules to cells. How to study cells and cell components

microscopy techniques, methods to fractionate cells and cell components. The structure and information content of macromolecules.

Structure of nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides and lipids.

The structure and function of enzymes. The kinetics of enzyme reactions. Biochemical techniques

chromatography, electrophoresis, centrifugation. The structure of cell walls. Organisation of lipids, polysaccharides and proteins in the plasma membrane. Membrane transport of small molecules. Membrane potential. Biosynthesis of lipids and polysaccharides. Cellular energy metabolism. Catabolism and anabolism. Energy gain from organic and inorganic compounds in respiration and fermentation. Structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Photosynthesis. Nutrients. The structure, function and dynamics of the cytoskeleton. The coordination of the different membrane systems of the cell. The mechanisms behind: organelle transport, secretion, endocytosis and cell division. Cell communication; intercellular contacts, cell surface receptors, cell adhesion. Extracellular matrices. Signals over the plasma membrane. Cell motility and chemotaxis in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

Biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins. Genome organisation. Gene expression. Mutations. Genetic recombination. DNA repair The mechanisms behind genetic constancy and variation. The organisation of the cell nucleus. Chromatin. Chromosomes. The cell cycle. Mitosis and meiosis. Basic gene technology; cloning of DNA, plasmids, viruses. Laboratory sessions: Light microscopy.

Centrifugation. Electrophoresis. Chromatography. Spectroscopy. Culture of bacteria.

Reactions catalysed by enzymes.

Reconstruction of complex enzymatic reactions in vitro. PCR. DNA sequencing. Computer exercises.

Instruction

The teaching comprises lectures, group work, seminars and laboratory sessions.

Assessment

The course consists of a theoretical part (9 credits) with lectures and group work and two practical parts: laboratory sessions (5 credits) and an independent literature study (1 credit) that has to be presented orally and in writing.