Entry requirements

Completed courses worth 150 credits including (1) 60 credits in biology and 30 credits in chemistry, including one of the advanced courses Molecular Cell Biology 15 credits, Functional Genomics 15 credits, Molecular Infection Biology 15 credits, or Genome Biology 5 credits, or (2) 30 credits in the Master's Programme in Applied Biotechnology or the Master's Programme in Chemistry, specialising in Biochemistry. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

During the course, the students work on a current molecular biological and gene technological problem. The aim is to provide advanced knowledge and skills that enable the students to find solutions on their own, and put these solutions into practice.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• analyse and describe the structure and classification of biological macromolecules (proteins and nucleic acids), and relate this information to their function,
• describe factors significant for macromolecular folding and stability,
• explain how biological macromolecules can be used for different industrial and academic purposes such as structure determination, organic synthesis and drug design,
• describe and evaluate methods for the production, purification, and storage of biological macromolecules,
• plan and perform mutagenesis experiments to engineer biological macromolecules,
• test the function of purified biological macromolecules,
• keep a complete and informative lab journal, with an understanding of the requirements for good laboratory practices (GLP),
• design a research plan for a biotechnological invention.

Content

Structure and function of biological macromolecules (proteins and nucleic acids)and biotechnological methods used to produce and characterize them. Lectures will also describe industrial and medical applications of engineered biological macromolecules. The students will also undertake a project-based biotechnological experiments, including production and analysis of biological macromolecules. The students will document their laboratory activities, which is aimed to prepare them for the demands of future employment. The student will also propose novel solutions to a chosen biotechnological experimental problem.

Instruction

The course consists of lectures, guest lectures, seminars, group work, computer and laboratory sessions. Participation in seminars, laboratory sessions and connected lectures, group work, tests and computer exercises is compulsory.

Assessment

Theory (7 credits); Practicals (8 credits). The theory module is examined through written exams (7 credits). The practical module requires a correctly kept laboratory journal, and oral presentations of wet lab experiments (5 credits), as well as an oral presentation of an original research project (3 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.