CORE075 Into the world of biomolecules

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Miloslava Fojtová, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Ctirad Hofr, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Josef Houser, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Petr Kulhánek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Malinovská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Michaela Wimmerová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Lukáš Žídek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Michaela Wimmerová, Ph.D.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 18. 9. to Sun 22. 10. Mon 17:00–18:50 B22/116 aula, Tue 24. 10. to Fri 22. 12. Mon 17:00–18:50 B22/116 aula; and Mon 23. 10. 17:00–18:50 Kinosál N02901
Prerequisites
Interest in the nature of the living.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course Into the World of Biomolecules introduces students to areas of knowledge that are related to the molecular nature of life - what molecules are found in cells and why, how we learn about them, and what is likely the origin of these molecules. The individual lectures always take a coherent topic as their goal and present it in an easily digestible form, with an emphasis on clarity and organized content. The course is intended for anyone interested in the nature of the living world, regardless of their current field of study. The insight and orientation in the course topic should help to navigate important topics that, despite their apparent remoteness, significantly affect our daily lives, for example, through medicine or modern (bio)technologies.
Learning outcomes
Students are going to be acquainted with the basic aspects of the molecular nature of the living world and become familiar with the current state and trends in this field of knowledge. They will learn about the importance of this knowledge for other areas of not only research but also of practical applications.
Syllabus
  • What is it? I - Introduction about molecules forming a cell, central dogma, proteins, genomics (Jiří Fajkus)
  • What does it hold together? Interactions within and between biomolecules, an introduction to thermodynamics for laymen (Lukáš Žídek)
  • What is it? II Sugars and lipids (Lenka Malinovská)
  • How did it come about? Origin of life (Jan Havliš)
  • Why is this good to know" Molecular origins of selected diseases, molecular medicine (Michaela Wimmerová)
  • How can we read it? Principles of sequencing, PCR and Sanger, qPCR, genomics (Miloslava Fojtová)
  • How do we know who is with whom?" Methods for measuring intermolecular interactions (Ctirad Hofr)
  • Why can't we see it? Explanation of the limited resolution of optical microscopy, introduction to wave reasoning (Lukáš Žídek)
  • How can we see it? Intro to biomolecular structure and crystallography (Josef Houser)
  • What does Einstein have to do with it? Demonstration that seemingly detached physics is the basis of fundamental methods (quantum physics - wave nature of the electron - electron microscope; relativity - spin - NMR) (Lukáš Žídek)
  • How can we figure it out? Bioinformatics (Lenka Malinovská)
  • Can we do the math? Computational methods, MD simulations, AlphaFold (Petr Kulhánek)
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Lane, Nick; Záhada života – proč je takový, jaký je? Dokořán / Argo 2022
    not specified
  • Essentials of Glycobiology, 4th edition; Cold Spring Harbor (NY): Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2022. ISBN-13: 978-1-621824-21-3 (hardback); ISBN-13: 978-1-621824-22-0 (epub)
  • SNUSTAD, D. Peter and Michael J. SIMMONS. Genetika. Edited by Jiřina Relichová. 2. aktual. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2017, 864 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-8613-5. info
  • FINKEL‘ŠTEJN, Aleksej Vital‘jevič and Oleg Borisovič PTICYN. Protein physics : a course of lectures. Second, updated and extended. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2016, xx, 508. ISBN 9780128096765. info
  • MUKHERJEE, Siddhartha. Vládkyně všech nemocí. Příběh rakoviny (The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer). Překlad: Jan Šmarda. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 520 pp. Poprvé v češtině, sv. 3. ISBN 978-80-210-7761-4. Více informací o knize na stránkách Nakladatelství info
  • XIONG, Jin. Essential bioinformatics. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, xi, 339. ISBN 0521600820. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussion.
Assessment methods
Students will be evaluated primarily based on active participation in the discussions that will be a regular part of each class. 50 points will be required to pass the course; 5 points can be earned for active participation in one class. In addition to active participation in class, up to 80 points may be earned in the final single-choice test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
lecture plan

18. 09. děkanské volno

25. 09. Jiří Fajkus

02. 10. Lukáš Žídek

09. 10. Lenka Malinovská

16. 10. Jan Havliš

23. 10. posluchárna obsazena pro LF

30. 10. Michaela Wimmerová

06. 11. Miloslava Fojtová

13. 11. Ctirad Hofr

20. 11. Lukáš Žídek

27. 11. Josef Houser

04. 12. Lukáš Žídek

11.12. Lenka Malinovská

18.12. Petr Kulhánek

The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
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