CST:CORE019 Advances and Challenges in Mod - Course Information

CORE019 Advances and Challenges in Modern Biology

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 1 for the colloquium). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Dalibor Blažek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Jan Hejátko, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. MUDr. Mgr. Marek Mráz, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Tomasz Nodzynski, B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mary Anne O'Connell, PhD. (lecturer)
Mgr. Markéta Pernisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Plevka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Přibyl, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Helene Robert Boisivon, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Karel Říha, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Michal Šmída, Dr. rer. nat. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Richard Štefl, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Štěpánka Vaňáčová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Lukáš Žídek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Alena Otoupalíková, Ph.D. (assistant)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Karel Říha, Ph.D.
Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics – Central European Institute of Technology
Contact Person: Mgr. Alena Otoupalíková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics – Central European Institute of Technology

Timetable

Mon 17:00–18:50 B11/132

Prerequisites

Interest in the latest trends and technologies in biological disciplines. Knowledge of English at least at level B1.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 3/60, only registered: 0/60, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/60

Course objectives

The course Advances and Challenges in Modern Biology acquaints students with the trends and interesting topics in modern biology, especially from the perspective of cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. The scope of the individual lectures is to offer a broad overview with emphasis on conceptual questions, rather than deep insights and technical details. These can be followed up in more advanced and specialized courses. The course is primarily for students of biological disciplines, which will provide them with insights into various areas of biology highlighting new trends or technologies. Nevertheless, students of non-biological disciplines are also welcome as the lectures will use general language accessible to non-specialists. Over the past year we witnessed how much can biology impact our lives. Therefore, gaining insights into interesting questions and problems biology tries to solve and into technology advancements that revolutionize biology will certainly benefit also non-biology students intrigued by developments in this discipline.
All the lectures will be taught in English. Study materials will be also available in English.

Learning outcomes

The students will become familiar with the basic principles of biology and get acquainted with the current state and trends in the field. They will learn about the overlaps and applicability of knowledge of modern biology to their parent field and gain a significant advantage in the labor market, and will gain an overview of research and methods implemented at CEITEC MU.

Syllabus

• 1) Green Alien – the Beauty and Value of Molecular Plant Biology (J. Hejátko) In the lecture I’ll introduce basic differences between animal and plant systems, particuallrly from the point of view of the developmental strategies used. I’ll highlight the importance of developmentral plasticity of plant cells and the importance of plant hormones in those processes. I’ll also desscribe the approaches used in the study of developmental regulations in plants including spatiotemporal specificity of gene expression and protein localization in plant cells and tissues. I’ll also briefly touch the recent developments in GMOs and genome editing and its importance for humankind.
• 2) Origins, structure, and impact of viruses on cellular life (P. Plevka) Viruses most likely emerged many times, which is reflected in the heterogeneity of their replication strategies and particle structures. Viruses have always played a key role in evolutionary events by increasing genetic diversity through horizontal gene transfer. We will discuss the impact of viruses on the evolution of eukaryotes and other important milestones in the evolution of cellular organisms.
• 3) The (Plant) Cell – a Vessel for Life (T. Nodzynski) Introduction to the basics of cell biology, covering a description of concepts, elements and processes that make a fuctional cell, a complete functoinal unit. The mateial will touch-upon the cell biology of all kingdomes but with a skew towards the Plant Cell as an example.
• 4) How the epitranscriptome is changing our world (M. O´Connell) In the past ten years it has become apparent that RNA modification or as it is known as the epitranscriptome, adds a layer of complexity to our transcriptome that we were previously unaware of. These RNA modifications can have many different consequences on the encoded RNA. An analogy would be seeing something in black and white film or color film. The epitranscriptome has been key to developing the new RNA vaccines that have been successful against the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. RNA modification is ancient and is present in all three domains of life. This lecture will discuss the dynamic world of RNA modification and its impact on biology and diseases.
• 5) From RNA world to RNA-based technologies (Š. Vaňáčová) This lecture will cover the aspects of RNA world hypothesis and then guide students historically through the RNA discoveries towards developments of RNA-based technologies being used in basic research, applied science and medicine.
• 6) Life at the nanoscale: how to touch a molecule (J. Přibyl) Have you heard about AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy)? Furthermore, did you know that it can produce impressive results in the characterization of bio-samples? The lecture will present an overview of the use of AFM and related techniques when the sample size proceeds from single-molecule to the whole cells and their clusters. The microscopy operates in their native environment. The range of advanced AFM modalities, including high-resolution and high-speed imaging, mechanical properties obtained in nanoindentation measurements, and single-molecule and single-cell force spectroscopy, will form the basis of the presentation. Combination with other techniques, such as fluorescence and/or Raman microscopy, forms correlative approaches that highlight recent examples to demonstrate the power of AFM techniques in life sciences and nanomedicine.
• 7) Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK): from regulation of basic biological processes to treatment of human diseases (D. Blažek) Example of CDK and history of their research will be used to discuss roles of kinases and other enzymes in regulation of basic biological processes and treatment of human diseases. We will discuss roles of CDKs in regulation of cell cycle, transcription and mRNA processing and how deregulation of these processes leads to onset of human diseases, particularly cancer. We will review CDKs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in cancer and discuss challenges in bringing CDK inhibitors to successful clinical applications.
• 8) Studies of leukemia biology leading to novel targeted therapy (M. Mráz) Hematology is the medical field where the first small molecules were used in targetted therapy, first monoclonal antibodies were developed, first CAR T cells, and first gene editing was used to treat rare diseases. It is the frontier of basic biology being transffered to clinics.
• 9) Such a beautiful fruit! (H.R.Boisivon) Fruits are part of our food. From fruits are also coming all types of grains and seeds that we need for baking pancakes, breads and cookies. We will explore how fruits are produced, and how the surrounding environment impacts on their production and dispersion. We will see how men helped to breed fruits for their consumption.
• 10) Plants - masters of regeneration (M. Pernisová) Unlike humans and other animals, plants are superb at regeneration. They can reprogram somatic cells and regenerate new tissues or organs. Upon perception of inductive cues, somatic cells often dedifferentiate, redifferentiate or transdifferentiate, proliferate, and acquire new fates to develop new organs or repair damaged tissues. Underlying these processes is the activation of transcriptional cascades to promote cell fate reprogramming and to initiate new developmental programs.
• 11) From Mozart’s hair to understanding protein architecture and its importance for the life (L. Žídek) The lecture will introduce basics and history of structural biology, using proteins as examples. Without any technical details, we learn how structural biology can describe exact shapes of such small and such complex molecular devices as proteins are.
• 12) Organization and regulation of gene transcription (R. Štefl) Regulation of gene expression determines cell identity and function. This regulation occurs to a large extent during transcription, which not only produces RNA from genes but also organizes regulatory factors at the site of transcription. We will discuss the organization and regulation of transcription from a structural biology perspective.
• 13) New concepts of gene engineering in mammalian cells (M. Šmída) This lecture will give an overview of different approaches to gene engineering (Zinc-finger proteins, TALENs, CRISPR/Cas system) and how gene engineering has been developing historically. We will discuss the story behind CRISPR invention and how it is used nowadays, incl. potential threats to misuse gene editing technology.
• 14) Biology of Aging (K. Říha) Getting old is a natural feature of life. This lecture will put scientifc perspective on this phenomenon. It will discuss the following questions: What is aging? Why do we age? Do all organims age, and if yes, is their pace of aging the same? Is aging an inevitable process or an option that can be delayed or even avoided?

Teaching methods

Lectures and discussions with students.

Assessment methods

filling in a feedback questionnaire

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught only once.

Teacher's information

Tuition takes place from 12.9. to 12.12.2022

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/cus/autumn2022/CORE019