Personendetail

Lecture contents

Extensive discussion of the question “what is life”. Physical and chemical basis of life, biomolecules and energy requirements. Catalysis, respiration and photosynthesis, metabolism and its regulation. Dynamic equilibrium and thermodynamic basis of life. Darwinian evolution, driving forces and mechanisms, population genetics, Mendelian inheritance and coevolution. Generation of complex organs like eyes and creationism. Phylogeny and formation of species. Importance of DNA and sequence analysis for modern biology. Origin of life, replicators and RNA world. History of life on our planet and milestones of evolution. Pro- and eukaryotes, differences, strategies and origin.

Assessment methods

a written exam at the end of the lectures

Teaching methods

Oral presentations

Lecture contents

In this course students learn the basics of cloning. The DNA of an ORF of a phage is amplified using PCR and cloned into the pUC18 vector. Following methods are performed: PCR, restriction digestion, DNA ligation, competent E. coli, plasmid transformation, selection, identification of the clones.
Additionally a deletion mutant is analysed by PCR and nucleic acid will be precipitated.
The students also write a scientific protocol in "publication-form."

Assessment methods

the grades include:
- protocol
- lab participation
- written test

Teaching methods

Practical course with theoretical background

Language

German

Lecture contents

- Fundamental features of genetics and genetic engineering
- Different levels of regulation of gene expression in pro- and eukaryotes
- Transcriptional regulation (transcription in eukaryotes, transcriptional activation, properties of transcription factors)
- Posttranscriptional regulation (splicing, transport, stability of mRNA, translational control)
- Effects of chromatin (composition, histone modifications, regulation, epigenetics)
- Examples from signalling pathways

Assessment methods

Final exam
Written exams

Teaching methods

Lectures with Powerpoint presentations

Language

English

Lecture contents

Important signalling pathways of the cell (e.g. MAP kinase-, GPCR-, Nuclear Hormone Receptor-, NF-kB-, Jak/Stat-, Wnt-, Hedgehog-, Tgfß-, Apoptosis-, PI3K/Akt- and stress pathways) are presented together with their effects on gene expression and other functions of the cell. In addition the crosslinks with other pathways are discussed. Techniques for the analysis of signalling pathways are also presented.

Assessment methods

Final exam
Written Exam

Teaching methods

Lectures with Powerpoint presentations, Discussion of selected chapters

Language

English

Lecture contents

In this course research papers from internationally respected high-quality journals from the field of Drug Discovery are distributed to the students who read them on their own. The seminar itself then takes the format of a peer-group discussion, where students present the background, the most important findings and the conclusion of the publications. Furthermore, they discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of the publications and make suggestions for improvements.

Assessment methods

Final exam
Participation in discussion (Seminar paper)

Teaching methods

Seminar

Language

English

Lecture contents

In this course the students learn strategies of scientific research. In a small group they develop a strategy for a given topic (in Drug Discovery), by designing experiments and work packages which they evaluate according to different criteria like costs, effort, efficiency, Finally each group presents its research project.

Assessment methods

Final exam
Presentation and discussion of the developed strategy

Teaching methods

Seminar

Language

English