KJM3500 Molecular and cell biology Course description

Students will be given an introduction to molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology. The course starts with an introduction to the basic principles of genetics and the structure of eukaryotic genes and genomes and their molecular biology characteristics. The course also deals with the expression of the eukaryotic genome and techniques used in modern molecular biology. The elective course is arranged provided that there is a sufficient number of students who choose the course.

The course builds on KJTP2410 Biokjemi og mikrobiologi and KJTS3100 Bioteknologi.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• shall acquire basic knowledge of genetics and achieve a good understanding of molecular and biological mechanisms in eukaryotic cells
• has a basic understanding of classical genetics
• is familiar with the structure and cellular organisation of eukaryotic nucleic acids
• is capable of explaining the structure and maintenance of eukaryotic genes and genomes
• is capable of explaining the central dogma in molecular biology and describing how these processes are regulated in eukaryotes
• is capable of explaining molecular biological methods used to study eukaryotic genes
• is familiar with modern methods for analysing genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes
• understands how model organisms are used in molecular biological research on eukaryotic genes.

Skills

The student:

• shall be capable of presenting and solving assignments both orally and in writing in the knowledge area presented in the course.
• understands how to use different molecular biological methods and model organisms to map eukaryotic genes and identify the functions of gene products.

General competence

The student:

• is capable of acquiring knowledge in molecular biology
• is capable of participating in a research project where molecular biological methods are used.

The teaching consist of lectures, organised study groups and exercises.

Four obligatory exercises/tasks are compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam (2-4 hours pr exercise/task).

Individual written exam with supervision, 3 hours.

The exam result can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, oral examination may be used instead of written. If oral exams are used for resit and rescheduled exams, the exam result cannot be appealed.

A handheld calculator that cannot be used for wireless communication or to perform symbolic calculations. If the calculator's internal memory can store data, the memory must be deleted before the exam. Random checks may be carried out. Dictionary, which is approved prior to the exam.

Grade scale A-F.

One internal examiner. External examiners are used regularly.

The course has an overlap of 5 credits with KJVE3520.