Techniques, model systems and current research topics in molecular biology

Objectives

This course introduces research areas in modern molecular biology with a focus on research conducted at the Molecular Biology Unit at the Department for Biological Sciences. The students will acquire an understanding of the conceptual background, the experimental approaches and the model systems used in research on molecular and gene tic interactions, the differentiation, physiology and homeostasis of cells and how these processes affect animals during regular development and in pathological conditions. The course should enable students to identify knowledge gaps in a broad range of research areas within molecular biology and to match scientific questions with experimental approaches to tackle them.

Content:

The course covers some of the following subjects: the role of lipids and lipid protein interactions and how they contribute to disease, the use of animal model organisms for studying cancer formation, nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases, the regulation of protein homeostasis, as well as immunology and vaccinology of fish.

The general concepts and major open questions of these research topics are introduced and methodology for addressing these questions is explained.

Knowledge -The student can explain

• Key concepts in the research topics described above
• Traits of the model organisms that make them suitable for these research topics
• Advanced methods for manipulating gene function

Skills-The student can

• Extract relevant information from original articles and reviews and present it to other scientists
• Discuss ethical aspects of the use of model organisms and gene manipulation