Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

● Course name: Frontiers in Biomedical Technology

● Academic year: 2021-2022: Trimester:1

● Degree: Master in Biomedical Research. Subject code: FiBT

● Credit number ECTS: 5. Hours of attendance/study: 125, of which 37 hours will correspond to classroom attendance.

● Language: English

●Teaching staff: Elena Hidalgo and Ana Janic (co-organizers).  Other professors/speakers from the Department de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut are José Ayté, Cristina López, Gabriel Gil, Oscar Fornàs, Xavier Sanjuán, Antonio García de Herreros, Susanna Boronat and Juan Valcárcel.  

Context: This course is divided in two blocks. The first block is headed towards the presentation of different techniques currently used in laboratories working in Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology or Cellular Biology field. The second part is focused to the study of the molecular basis of the regulation of gene expression and the students will receive and advanced view of DNA replication, RNA transcription and splicing, translation and regulation of protein stability.   

Focus: The course is intended as a study of advanced techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetics and on the current trends in the Regulation of Gene Expression, with a combination of introductory lectures, research seminars and student’s presentations.

Key aspects: This course is integrated into a master with a clear orientation towards PhD studies. Therefore, the students will receive lectures with a different background, some more basic, and other imparted by experts in the different fields studied in the course, who will present recent trends. Moreover, the students will have to analyse and present a seminar based on one or two published articles that will provided in advance. 

Students are expected to actively participate in all the sessions by asking questions; these active contributions will be acknowledged in the final mark

Associated skills

1) To develop skills in acquisition, critical processing, and communication of scientific information, and proposal and discussion of hypothesis.

2) To acquire basic abilities to outline and design experimental approaches to solve specific research questions.

Learning outcomes

1) To acquire knowledge on basic and advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques, and to get in touch with the main experts in our research area on each one of such techniques.  Thus, some of the classes of the first block of this course will be given by the researchers leading the microscopy, flow cytometry and sequencing facilities of our department.

2) To be able to retain sufficient information regarding these techniques so that students can in the future implement such knowledge in their research projects, and contact the right people to get advice.

3) To be able to describe major processes on the regulation of the genetic information transmission, so that students can understand how proteins are actively expressed in the correct cellular localization at the right time in the correct cell types.

Sustainable Development Goals

Reduction of inequalities

Prerequisites

Language. The course will be entirely imparted in English, and the articles and class materials will be in English.  Students are expected to have an English level sufficient to understand scientific articles, and basic conversational and writing skills to discuss and make oral and written presentations of scientific literature.

Previous formation. Classes will be at an advanced level, with an emphasis on the analysis of biological processes from a molecular, biochemical, and cellular basis. Students are expected to have knowledge on Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry equivalent to the level achieved in a University degree in Biology or Biochemistry.

Contents

1) Block A: Advanced methods in Genetic Engineering.  It will comprise techniques classified in two different levels of complexity

1a) Techniques in protein, RNA and DNA manipulation and analysis

1b) Advanced technologies from UPF-CRG core facilities

2) Block B: Current trends in the regulation of gene expression.  It will comprise a first opening lecture of one hour about the general organization of this block, and several sessions (three hours each) studying replication, specific aspects of the control of gene expression at the level of transcription, RNA splicing, translation and protein stability.

The following program is tentative. Definitive lesson titles and seminars will be provided at the beginning of the course. Out of classroom activities will include individual and group work, and will be assigned during the first days of the course.

Teaching Methods

The first block (A: Advanced methods in Genetic Engineering; 18 h) is composed of 12 sessions (1.5 h each).  Each one will try to cover basic methodologies for the study of cellular processes at the molecular level.  12 experts on specific Molecular Biology techniques will give seminars on the topics described below.

The second block (B: Current trends in the regulation of gene expression; 19 h) is composed of 7 sessions (plus an introductory lecture).  Each one of the sessions B1 to B6, of about 3 h, will include:  

            1 h of theory by an expert

            1 h for an article presentation, related to the invited speaker

1 h seminar, given by an invited speaker, expert in the field of interest.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will probably be online, using platforms such as Zoom

The duration of the course is around 5 weeks.

Lessons will comprise 37 hours. Attendance is mandatory.

As indicated, besides attendance to lessons, students will be assigned the presentation of an article that will be delivered two-three weeks in advance. Preparation of the article plus autonomous hours of personal study along the 5 weeks of the course requires approximately 75 hours per student.

Evaluation

There will be a final exam in December to evaluate the contents of both blocks A and B.  The exam will be based on multiple choice questions.  Block B (Current trends in the regulation of gene expression) will also be evaluated by the personal contribution of the students to the presentation of an article that will be carried out in small groups (around five students).  Additional points will be awarded on the basis of the student participation in the discussions of block B.  The score obtained in the written exam will be added to the grades obtained during the classes of block B in the problem discussion and presentation sessions.

To pass this subject, it is necessary to achieve at least 5/10 in the final mark; approximately 70% of this mark will depend on the multiple choice written test (50% for block A, 20% for block B) and 30% of the final mark will be based on the article presentation.

These evaluation activities (exam and presentation of the article) are mandatory.

The dates with the specific evaluation activities will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Classes and activities in all subjects of the trimester will end in December, leaving 1-2 weeks for exam preparation. Exams usually take place between the 17^th and 20^th of December. Exam dates will be announced by the Academic Secretary.

Bibliography and information resources

The main sources of bibliography will be reviews on specific topics and selected original research articles. These are updated from year to year, and are available to students at the website of the course in Campus Global at the beginning of the classes.

In addition, a basic textbook on general cellular and molecular biology is highly recommended for basic notions and refreshing forgotten concepts.

An excellent reference book can be found in recent editions of “Molecular Biology of the Cell”, 5^th Edition (2007) by Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter. Published by Garland Science.

Another excellent textbook by Lodish and colleagues is: “Molecular Cell Biology” (2013).

Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

● Course name: Frontiers in Biomedical Technology

● Academic year: 2021-2022: Trimester:1

● Degree: Master in Biomedical Research. Subject code: FiBT

● Credit number ECTS: 5. Hours of attendance/study: 125, of which 37 hours will correspond to classroom attendance.

● Language: English

●Teaching staff: Elena Hidalgo and Ana Janic (co-organizers).  Other professors/speakers from the Department de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut are José Ayté, Cristina López, Gabriel Gil, Oscar Fornàs, Xavier Sanjuán, Antonio García de Herreros, Susanna Boronat and Juan Valcárcel.  

Context: This course is divided in two blocks. The first block is headed towards the presentation of different techniques currently used in laboratories working in Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology or Cellular Biology field. The second part is focused to the study of the molecular basis of the regulation of gene expression and the students will receive and advanced view of DNA replication, RNA transcription and splicing, translation and regulation of protein stability.   

Focus: The course is intended as a study of advanced techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetics and on the current trends in the Regulation of Gene Expression, with a combination of introductory lectures, research seminars and student’s presentations.

Key aspects: This course is integrated into a master with a clear orientation towards PhD studies. Therefore, the students will receive lectures with a different background, some more basic, and other imparted by experts in the different fields studied in the course, who will present recent trends. Moreover, the students will have to analyse and present a seminar based on one or two published articles that will provided in advance. 

Students are expected to actively participate in all the sessions by asking questions; these active contributions will be acknowledged in the final mark

Associated skills

1) To develop skills in acquisition, critical processing, and communication of scientific information, and proposal and discussion of hypothesis.

2) To acquire basic abilities to outline and design experimental approaches to solve specific research questions.

Learning outcomes

1) To acquire knowledge on basic and advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques, and to get in touch with the main experts in our research area on each one of such techniques.  Thus, some of the classes of the first block of this course will be given by the researchers leading the microscopy, flow cytometry and sequencing facilities of our department.

2) To be able to retain sufficient information regarding these techniques so that students can in the future implement such knowledge in their research projects, and contact the right people to get advice.

3) To be able to describe major processes on the regulation of the genetic information transmission, so that students can understand how proteins are actively expressed in the correct cellular localization at the right time in the correct cell types.

Sustainable Development Goals

Reduction of inequalities

Prerequisites

Language. The course will be entirely imparted in English, and the articles and class materials will be in English.  Students are expected to have an English level sufficient to understand scientific articles, and basic conversational and writing skills to discuss and make oral and written presentations of scientific literature.

Previous formation. Classes will be at an advanced level, with an emphasis on the analysis of biological processes from a molecular, biochemical, and cellular basis. Students are expected to have knowledge on Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry equivalent to the level achieved in a University degree in Biology or Biochemistry.

Contents

1) Block A: Advanced methods in Genetic Engineering.  It will comprise techniques classified in two different levels of complexity

1a) Techniques in protein, RNA and DNA manipulation and analysis

1b) Advanced technologies from UPF-CRG core facilities

2) Block B: Current trends in the regulation of gene expression.  It will comprise a first opening lecture of one hour about the general organization of this block, and several sessions (three hours each) studying replication, specific aspects of the control of gene expression at the level of transcription, RNA splicing, translation and protein stability.

The following program is tentative. Definitive lesson titles and seminars will be provided at the beginning of the course. Out of classroom activities will include individual and group work, and will be assigned during the first days of the course.

Teaching Methods

The first block (A: Advanced methods in Genetic Engineering; 18 h) is composed of 12 sessions (1.5 h each).  Each one will try to cover basic methodologies for the study of cellular processes at the molecular level.  12 experts on specific Molecular Biology techniques will give seminars on the topics described below.

The second block (B: Current trends in the regulation of gene expression; 19 h) is composed of 7 sessions (plus an introductory lecture).  Each one of the sessions B1 to B6, of about 3 h, will include:  

            1 h of theory by an expert

            1 h for an article presentation, related to the invited speaker

1 h seminar, given by an invited speaker, expert in the field of interest.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will probably be online, using platforms such as Zoom

The duration of the course is around 5 weeks.

Lessons will comprise 37 hours. Attendance is mandatory.

As indicated, besides attendance to lessons, students will be assigned the presentation of an article that will be delivered two-three weeks in advance. Preparation of the article plus autonomous hours of personal study along the 5 weeks of the course requires approximately 75 hours per student.

Evaluation

There will be a final exam in December to evaluate the contents of both blocks A and B.  The exam will be based on multiple choice questions.  Block B (Current trends in the regulation of gene expression) will also be evaluated by the personal contribution of the students to the presentation of an article that will be carried out in small groups (around five students).  Additional points will be awarded on the basis of the student participation in the discussions of block B.  The score obtained in the written exam will be added to the grades obtained during the classes of block B in the problem discussion and presentation sessions.

To pass this subject, it is necessary to achieve at least 5/10 in the final mark; approximately 70% of this mark will depend on the multiple choice written test (50% for block A, 20% for block B) and 30% of the final mark will be based on the article presentation.

These evaluation activities (exam and presentation of the article) are mandatory.

The dates with the specific evaluation activities will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Classes and activities in all subjects of the trimester will end in December, leaving 1-2 weeks for exam preparation. Exams usually take place between the 17^th and 20^th of December. Exam dates will be announced by the Academic Secretary.

Bibliography and information resources

The main sources of bibliography will be reviews on specific topics and selected original research articles. These are updated from year to year, and are available to students at the website of the course in Campus Global at the beginning of the classes.

In addition, a basic textbook on general cellular and molecular biology is highly recommended for basic notions and refreshing forgotten concepts.

An excellent reference book can be found in recent editions of “Molecular Biology of the Cell”, 5^th Edition (2007) by Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter. Published by Garland Science.

Another excellent textbook by Lodish and colleagues is: “Molecular Cell Biology” (2013).