Course detail

Introduction to Molecular Biology and Genetics

FEKT-AMOLAcad. year: 2010/2011

The students are provided with a review of the latest findings in the field of molecular and cellular biology: storage and expression of genetic information, construction and function of the cell and cellular interaction. They develop skills in microscopic practice, learn the fundamentals of biological experiment and its evaluation. The acquired knowledge and skills will constitute a basis for a better understanding of other subjects – pathological physiology, introduction to clinical medicine and analysis of biological signals.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Petr Dvořák, CSc.

Department

Department of Biomedical Engineering (UBMI)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

A general knowledge of the molecular biology of the cell, expression of genetic information and basic methods for molecular biology and genetics.

Prerequisites

Knowledge at secondary school level and of completed subjects in the study area

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Requirements for successful completion of the subject are specified by guarantor´s regulation updated for every academic year.

Course curriculum

The cellular organisation in living systems, structure and function of cellular organellas, cloning of cells and stem cells, research methods, molecular genetics.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

To deepen the knowledge in the field of molecular biology of the cell and genetics needed for study of other subjects

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor´s regulation updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

NEČAS, Oldřich et al. Obecná biologie pro lékařské fakulty. 3. přepracované vyd. Jinočany: H+H, 2000. ISBN 80-86022-46-3. (CS)
CAMPBELL, Neil a Jane REECE. Biologie, 1. vyd. Computer press, 2006. ISBN 80-251-1178-4. (CS)
ALBERTS, Bruce et al. Základy buněčné biologie: úvod do molekulární biologie buňky. 2. vyd. Ústí nad Labem: Espero 
Publishing, 2006. ISBN 80-902906-2-0. 
 (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BTBIO-A Bachelor's

    branch A-BTB , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Petr Dvořák, CSc.

Syllabus

1. Cellular organisation of living systems
2. Cellular memory
3. Transcription
4. Translation
5. Genetic expression control
6. DNA replication
7. Biomembranes and energy transformation
8. Transport of substances
9. Organisation of cellular core
10. Cytoskelet and molecular engines
11. Cellular cycle
12. Cellular signalling
13. Clone and stem cells

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Petr Dvořák, CSc.

Syllabus

1. Bacteria viruses: bacteriophage plaque, determination of the bacteriophage titre.
2. Procaryontic cells: native mounts of fungi , Gram coloring – permanent bacteria mounts.
3. Eucaryontic cells, cytochemical methods for study of cells: Protoyoa, Elodea – preparation of native mounts. Feulgen’s reaction, RNA coloring, Gram’s coloring.
4. Tissue and cellular cultures: the basic principles of cultivation, cryoconservation, collections, applications.
5. Electron microscopy: the principle of the ELM method, methods of preparation of mounts, demonstration –the transmission and scanning electron microscope, the free-etching apparatus, evaluation of ELM images
6. Radioactive isotopes in cellular biology: the principle of utilisation of compounds marked with isotopes, utilisation of radioisotopes for research of specific inhibitors – evaluation of experimental studies, autoradiographical methods – the principle.
7. Impact of deep freezing on cells.Viability tests, detection of membrane integrity disorders (yeast, animal and human cells in vitro), quantitative determination of living and dead cells.
8. Cytotoxicity testing methods – impact of deep freezing on yeast cells, practical applications, in vitro systems, evaluation of the experiment with in vitro testing on human cells.
9. Biomembranes: structure and functions, fusion of cells – an experiment on human and chicken erytrocytes, osmotic effects – an experiment on human erytrocytes, applications (dialysis, fusion of cells – hybridomic technology).
10. Analysis of the cellular cycle: cdc yeast mutants – monitoring of the morphological changes during the cellular cycle, analysis of the growth curve (human cells in vitro, yeast), flow cytometry – the principle, evaluation of histograms.
11. Mitotic division. Coloring of chromosomes, monitoring of permanent mounts – plant meristemes, human lymphocytes.
12. Methods of cellular research (seminar)
13. Internet sources for biomedical research: sources for cellular biology (tissue and line banks, antibodies, catalogs), instruction resources and biomedical information portals, publication databases.