Entry requirements

60 credits in biology including Molecular Biology and Genetics (10 credits), or Biology A: Patterns and Processes (22.5 credits) or Biology A: Patterns, Processes and Science Education (22.5 credits). In both cases students must have taken the courses Cell Biology (15 credits, of which 5 credits completed), and Physiology (15 credits). They must also have taken the courses The Basic Principles of Chemistry (15 credits), Organic Chemistry I (10 credits) and Biochemistry I (5 credits), and must have completed 20 of the credits for these courses. The course requires practical laboratory experience in molecular biology.

Learning outcomes

After passing the course the student should be able to

• describe thoroughly how gene expression is regulated in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes
• independently use and optimise molecular tools such as PCR and cloning
• use some and describe several methods and strategies for deeper analysis of biological questions, e.g. gene inactivation, gene editing, fluorescent reporter genes and model organisms
• describe how advanced molecular tools such as large-scale sequencing and proteomics can be used to study gene expression
• describe current applications of molecular biology and genetics, within e.g. evolutionary biology and medicine
• read and evaluate scientific articles within subjects relevant for the course
• describe ethical issues related to the subjects that are covered during the course

Content

The course focuses on regulation of gene expression in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes, and basic molecular biological and genetic methods as well as the latest large-scale methods that are used to study gene function and gene expression. The following subjects are covered during the course: epigenetics; transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression; regulatory RNA. The latest methods within analysis of gene expression, e.g. large-scale sequencing and proteomics. Applications of molecular biology and genetics in current research. Methods for further studies of gene function: inactivation of genes, reporter genes, model organisms. Experimental strategies: selection of methods to study a specific scientific problem. Theoretical and practical training in PCR, cloning, epigenetics in fission yeast and inactivation of reverse genetics in the roundworm C. elegans. Ethical questions within molecular biology and genetics.

Instruction

Lectures, laboratory sessions, seminars and problem-solving exercises.

Assessment

Written examination (9 credits), written and oral presentation of laboratory sessions (5 credits) as well as oral and written presentation at literature seminar (1 credit).

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 disability coordinator of the university.