Foundations and Methods of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology Fundamentals and Methods (DNA, RNA, recombinant DNA, microbiological basis, "cloning" and other methods in molecular cell biology, computer approaches to molecular biology data management, molecular evolution)

After successful completion of the module the students are able to

• understand the theoretical basis for laboratory work (cloning, recombinant expression of proteins, protein purification, etc.).
• understand the working principles in molecular biology and biochemistry.
• know and understand selected in-depth subjects introduced in the modules biophysics and molecular biophysics.

recommended: biophysics (module 0020)

Lecture: developing chemical fundaments of genetics (DNA, RNA), bacterial genetics, gene expression and regulation, pecularities of eukaryotic organisms.

Exercise: practicing and deepening of knowledge based on quantitative problems; possibly, primary literature.

Excursion: half-day visit at a biotech company.

lecture with script; black board; exercise sheets via Moodle

Phillips et al. "Physical Biology of the Cell"
Schartl et al. "Biochemie und Molekularbiologie des Menschen"
Pollard & Earnshaw "Cell Biology"

There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using Questions on basic knowledge and understanding of experimental observations.

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• Draw the chemical structure of dATP (DNA, RNA,...)!
• Describe the processes of transcription (translation, replication,...)!
• Draw a schematics for the regulation lactose utilization ('lac operon')!

Participation in the exercise classes is strongly recommended since the exercises prepare for the problems of the exam and rehearse the specific competencies.