BCH 3031: Advanced Molecular Biology: Modern concepts and applications
This subject is centred on advanced aspects of DNA as the genetic component of organisms and cells and will emphasize the following topics:
- Genome structure: global aspects of genome organisation; functional rearrangements in DNA; genome mapping.
- Functional genomics: regulation of gene expression; profiling gene expression outcomes at the RNA (transcriptosome) and protein (proteome) levels; how gene and protein function is determined; gene expression in development.
- Recombinant DNA technology and human disease: molecular diagnosis and screening; identification of disease genes.
- Smart technologies for treatment of disease: gene therapy; DNA vaccines; novel therapeutics.
- New information leading to new applications in disease treatment: diversity in the human genome, the genomes of model organisms and genome mining.
This unit is specially designed for students in the third year of the Bachelor of Science degree. It follows directly from the Molecular Biology units MOL2011 and MOL2022 in second year and has an emphasis on content that specifically complements third year biochemistry (BCH) units BCH3021, BCH3042 and BCH3052
BCH3031 is also suitable as an elective unit for students in the third year of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree. It builds on concepts dealt with in BMS1062, BMS2042 and BMS2062, and will complement the core unit BMS3021.
BCH3031 consists of 2 lectures per week and one 3 hour practical session per week and 1 tutorial per week. Two tutorial sessions have been scheduled per week on Monday 9am and Tuesday 11am. Attendance and active participation in discussion by students at one of these sessions per week is highly recommended.
The student composition of practical classes will be made by ALLOCATE and finalised by the FIRST WEEK of semester. Students are to proceed to the Third year Biochemistry teaching laboratories the first Wednesday or Thursday of semester. Allocation of practical class will depend on timetable clashes with other classes. Please finalise the day allocated to you for your practical classes during the first week of semester. Students will be divided up into groups per practical class, each containing 10-12 students.
Lecturing Staff
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Prof Rod Devenish
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A/Prof Tim Cole
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Dr Jackie Wilce
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Prof David Jans
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Dr David Piedrafita
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Dr Ian Smyth
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Advanced Molecular Biology- Modern Concepts and Applications
1. Introduction
2. Genome Structure
a. Organisation of eukaryote genomes. Packaging of DNA in chromosomes and chromatin. Understanding the essential elements of chromosomes.
b. Timing and pattern of eukaryotic replication in relation to chromosome structure and packaging. The linear end problem – telomere replication.
c. Functional rearrangements in DNA (e.g. trypanosome surface antigens and antibody genes)
d. Whole genome mapping: concepts/sequencing, techniques and applications. Non-coding sequences/repeat sequences/single nucleotide polymorphisms.
3. Functional Genomics
a. DNA-binding motifs in gene regulatory proteins. The function of genetic switches in regulating gene expression
b. The influence of chromatin structure and gene location on gene expression. Targeted and ordered recruitment of chromatin modifying activities. Novel mechanisms of transcriptional activation.
c. The transcriptosome – profiling gene expression at the mRNA level. Application of serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and DNA microchip arrays to the comparison of expressed genes in normal, developmental and disease states.
d. Gene control and micro RNAs.
e. A view of genome function obtained by profiling gene expression at the protein level (the proteome). Global changes in protein expression and the systematic study of protein interactions in cell physiology
f. Studying gene and protein function: mutants, identification of functional homologues from other species, two hybrid analysis and gene knockouts.
g. Large scale approaches to understanding gene function.
h. Using animal models to explore disease and therapies.
4. Recombinant DNA Technology and Human Disease
a. Gene mutation and human disease
b. Identification and analysis of human disease genes
c. Molecular diagnosis and screening for human genetic disease: current strategies for screening populations for gene mutations.
d. Identifying gene mutations that alter resistance and susceptibility to infectious diseases
5. Smart Technologies for Treatment of Disese and Infection
1. Delivery of peptides and proteins to cells and tissues
2. Advances in gene therapy. Prospects for use of human stem cells/tissue engineering/growing new organs
3. DNA vaccines.
4. Antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics
6. New information leading to new applications
a. Single nucleotide substitutions – the largest source of diversity in the human genome. Detection using molecular beacons and other techniques. Applications in population studies (disease susceptibility), clinical diagnostics (viral load) and pharmacogenetics (differences in drug responses between individuals).
b. The Human Genome Project and the Human Genome Diversity Project. Genomes of model organisms. What can we learn from comparative genomics?
c. Genome mining (application of computer search programs to protein identification). Application to production of new proteins products useful in biomedicine.
Assessment:
The assessment of BCH3031 will consist of the following:
End of Semester examination - Worth no less than 55% of total marks.
Examination of 3 hours duration comprising short answer and essay questions on lecture and some P/SGT material
Practical/Small Group Teaching work - Worth up to 30% of total marks
Students will be assessed by Demonstrators on the basis of:
- their comprehension, diligence and general laboratory performance
- their comprehension and participation in the discussion groups held in conjunction with the practical exercises
- Results sheets which are to be completed and handed in according to the instructions from your demonstrator
Satisfactory performance in the P/SGT of BCH3031 is required to achieve a pass in BCH3031 in addition to satisfactory performance in the examinations. This assessment will span the semester.Essay - Worth 15% of total marks
An essay of 2000 words written during the semester.
Resources
Subject Manual
The Subject Manual for Biochemistry 3031 contains essential information about the lectures, practical exercises and assessment for this subject. Detailed notes for individual experiments are included. A copy of the manual should be obtained from the Third Year Biochemistry Practical Laboratory during the first week of semester. Note that just one copy is available to each student; replacement copies will not be provided. Detailed lecture outlines, notes and/or other advice including relevant reading for each lecture block will be provided by individual lecturers during the course of the semester.
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