C7875en Gene technologies

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jan Lochman, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Omar Šerý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jan Lochman, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: Department of Biochemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:50 C05/114
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to provide the student with an understanding of principles and methodologies currently using in technologies and teach the student to apply this knowledge in the development of new biotechnological applications. The main topics of this course include details of selected molecular biology techniques related to gene cloning, prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, foreign gene transfer, or the use of sequencing and microarray methods within genomics and transcriptomics. Within the course, the use of all these approaches in diagnostic of the diseases, development of therapeutics or new transgenic plants will be discussed.
Learning outcomes
The lecture will provide students with theoretical knowledge in the field of molecular biological techniques used in biotechnology. During the lecture, the student will gain theoretical knowledge about molecular mechanisms used in gene technology and biomedicine. At the end of the lecture the student will be able to: • Integrate knowledge within the inheritance, expression, and regulation of genetic information. • Theoretically describe and use methods used in basic molecular-biological methods related to recombinant DNA and protein techniques. • Use theoretical knowledge about model organisms used in biotechnology. • Understand advanced gene technologies for genome analysis, expression and description, gene mapping, and cloning. • Understand the basic methodological approaches used in current biomedicine and diagnostics.
Syllabus
  • 1. Chemical structure of nucleic acids, transcription and its regulation by prokaryotes (sigma factor, LAC operon, activators and repressors) and eukaryotes (enhancers of transcription, epigenetics), translation and its regulation by prokaryotes and eukaryotes. 2. Model organisms used in biotechnology - bacteria (E. coli), yeast (Pichia, Saccharomyces) and fungi (Penicillium), Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode), Drosophila melanogaster, Danio rerio (Danio rerio), house mouse, animal cell cultures, Arabidopsis thaliana (viruses), viruses (bacteriophages, retroviruses). DNA replication in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, repair processes, in-vitro DNA synthesis (PCR, reverse transcription). 3. Basic technologies of recombinant DNA - enzymes, vectors, transformation methods, construction of gene libraries. Genome editing techniques (ZFNs, TALENs, CRISPR). 4. Recombinant proteins - protein expression in bacteria (cloning strategies, codon usage, reduction of toxic effects due to overproduction, increased stability and secretion, glycosylation), protein expression in eukaryotic cells (yeast, insect cells, mammalian cells), advantages and disadvantages of individual of expression systems 5. Genomics and gene expression - gene mapping techniques, non-coding parts of the genome, bioinformatics tools, pharmacogenetics, DNA microarrays, RNA-seq techniques, metagenomics, epigenetics. 6. RNA-based technologies - RNA division, importance of non-coding RNAs, antisense RNAs and gene silencing, ribozymes 7. Technologies in immunology - antibodies (structure, function), targeted antibody design, monoclonal antibodies, ELISA, vaccines (production and production) , identification of potential new antigens, DNA vaccines) 8. Transgenic plants - tissue cultures, plant genetic engineering (Ti plasmid), functional genomics, biotechnological applications. Transgenic animals - production techniques, methods of transgene expression control, application of RNA technologies, examples of transgenic animals. 9. Gene therapy - congenital defects in higher organisms, identification of defective genes, general principle of gene therapy, gene therapy using retroviruses and adenoviruses, aggressive gene therapy, use of RNA in therapy, targeted gene editing.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • CLARK, David P. a Nanette Jean PAZDERNIK. Biotechnology. Second edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2016. xv, 833. ISBN 9780123850157.
  • VOET, Donald a Judith G. VOET. Biochemistry. 4th ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. xxv, 1428. ISBN 9780470917459.
  • Harvey Lodish; Arnold Berk; Chris A. Kaiser; Monty Krieger; Anthony Bretscher; Hidde Ploegh; Kelsey C. Martin; Michael Yaffe; Angelika Amon. Molecular Cell Biology 9th Ed., 2021. ISBN:9781319208523
Teaching methods
The course is presented in the form of an explanation of PowerPoint slides based on textbooks, monographs, and articles. The lectures are presented, explained, and supplemented by a teacher's commentary during the lecture. The templates are also available in IS MUNI.
Assessment methods
The exam is written and oral. Within the written part, students will answer an online test in IS MUNI consisting of 25 questions covering particular thematic areas of the course. During the oral part, students demonstrate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to specific examples. At least 70% of the points must be obtained to pass the exam. The duration of the written test is 20 minutes and the exam of one student is about 15 minutes.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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