• DNA's structure and organisation in the cell.
• DNA replication, recombination and repair.
• Transcription and protein synthesis.
• Transposons and bacteriophages.
• Structures of operons, promoters, activators, repressors.
• RNA splicing.
• DNA binding motives in proteins.
• Functional, small RNA molecules.

Knowledge: The course will give students a theoretical knowledge on DNA synthesis (replication, recombination and repair), RNA synthesis, protein synthesis and gene regulation, at a molecular level. Students will get a basic understanding on the interactions between DNA and proteins in connection with DNA and RNA synthesis, DNA packaging and gene regulation. Both bacterial and eukaryotic systems will be used, but with special focus on the former. We will focus on following model systems for gene regulation:

• The lactose operon
• Regulation of the tryptophan operon
• The lambda bacteriophage
• Catabolic repression

Skills

Students will have a detailed knowledge of all the important steps and proteins/enzymes involved in central biosyntheses, the interplay between the enzymes, the connections between the different biosyntheses. Students will also be able to understand how genes are expressed and regulated, and how cells/bacteria respond to changes in the environments, e.g., during energy limitations or DNA damages.

Acquired skills can later contribute in the development of various molecular tools to solve important problems in the society or in the environment. E.g., to

• improve health by producing vitamines and better and healthier food,
• secure life quality on land and in waters by removing toxic pollutants through enzymatic processes,
• produce more food using genetic technologies, and
• develop new medicines for human and veterinary use.

These opportunities and challenges are central in many UN sustainable development goals. 

General competence

The students shall after the course (i) have increased understanding on how central biosyntheses take place at a molecular level in cells, and (ii) can communicate and participate in discussions on topics related to biosynthesis, the buildup of macromolecules, gene regulation, DNA repair.

The teacher has designated office hours for consultation.

A series of 10 double-hour colloquia during the semester

daniel.straume@nmbu.no

Canvas.

Textbook

Lewin’s Genes XII

Jocelyn E. Krebs; Elliott S. Goldstein; Stephen T. Kilpatrick

Selected chapters from the textbook will be used.

• Cell Biology equivalent to BIO100.
• Microbiology equivalent to BIO130.

Twice with 45 min midterm test (multiple choice). The first counts 10 % and the second counts 15 % of the final grade.

2 hour written final exam (multiple choice), counts 75 % of the final grade.

• Lectures: 46-48 hours.
• Mid Term Test: 45 minutes
• Colloquia: 20-24 hours.
• Individual study: 137 hours.

First three weeks: 3 x  2h-lectures per week. 

After that: 2 x 2h-lectures  and 1 x 2h-colloquium per week.