E2050 Laboratory course in molecular biology and microbiology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/3. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA (lecturer)
Mgr. Petra Brenerová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Pavla Holochová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Natálie Mlčůchová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
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 aim of the course is for the students to know the correct habits of work in the molecular biology laboratory and to understand the meaning and principle of the individual basic tasks in the analysis of human, microbial and environmental samples. In this course, students should gain knowledge of the practical implementation of basic methodologies used in molecular biology and microbiology research on human environmental health and microbiota.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will know how to keep a lab book and prepare a protocol. The student will be familiar with the principles of work safety in a molecular biology laboratory. The student will be able to perform basic molecular biology laboratory procedures according to standard operating protocol. The student will be familiar with the principles of methods used to isolate DNA and measure its quality and quantity, PCR followed by gel electrophoresis or qPCR and basic sequencing methods. The student will also be able to perform basic microbiology laboratory work such as plate work, Gram staining and catalase assay.
Syllabus
  • The course includes several practical tasks in which human/environmental samples are processed and analyzed. 1) Introduction to working in a molecular biology laboratory, work safety, maintaining a laboratory diary/protocol, collection of human/environmental and storage of samples, proper design of experiments. 2) Isolation of human DNA by phenol-chloroform method. 3) Isolation of DNA from buccal swab by column method using a commercially available kit. 4) Basic control methods when working with DNA and comparison of the outputs of these measurements. 5) Analysis of the microbiome by amplification of a region in the gene for 16S or ITS rRNA by PCR. 6) Evaluation of PCR results by gel electrophoresis. 7) Microbiology exercise focusing on basic microbiological methods and monitoring. 8) Microbiology exercise – Gram staining and catalase assay. 9) Determination of bacterial load in a sample by qPCR. 10) Determination of functional polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene by qPCR. 11) Basic sequencing methods. 12) Discussion of limitations of analysis, data evaluation and interpretation. Discussion of the flow of each exercise, review of protocols and final test of questions covered in each exercise. Credit will be given if attendance is met and protocols for all exercises are completed correctly.
Literature
  • Šmarda, J. a kol. Metody molekulární biologie. 1. vyd. Brno: MU, 2005. info
Teaching methods
The concept of the course is to teach students through the practical exercise listed above in the annotation. Teaching materials and protocols are available within the university information system.
Assessment methods
To complete the course, students must complete all laboratory tasks and prepare reports from each of them.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/E2050