Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree and 15 credits from the courses Biophotonics, Molecular and Statistical Mechanics, or Physical Molecular Biology. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

• give an account of basic theory and concepts used in structure determination by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including cryo-electron microscopy
• give an account of basic methods used in structure determination by electron microscopy
• give an account of basic concepts in X-ray crystallographic theory
• give an account of basic methods used in macromolecular crystallography
• give an account of requirements and limitations of different structure determination methods and the information provided by the different methods
• describe the interaction of electromagnetic radiation and matter and its application in spectroscopy
• interpret measurement results produced using the spectroscopic methods discussed in the course
• choose appropriate biophysical methods to answer biological questions

Content

The course gives a broad overview of biophysical methods, their role in biology and the principles that make them possible. Students are given a theoretical background to spectroscopic principles, spectroscopic instruments, effects of molecular symmetry and image formation in electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. In addition, practical experience is given in the interpretation and evaluation of data from X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy and spectroscopic methods.

Specific methods that are brought up in the course are: X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, electron tomography, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, IR spectroscopy, light scattering and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy.

The course also includes a student run-project, where a biophysical question is investigated by means of the methods and the knowledge that has been communicated in the course.

Instruction

Teaching is given in the form of lectures, computer exercises, laboratory sessions, literature seminars and a project.

Assessment

Written examination in structural biology (6 credits), written examination in spectroscopy (4 credits). Laboratory sessions, computer exercises, literature seminars and project work (5 credits).

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.