Details

Lecture contents

Structure and function of cellular organelles (Nucleus, Mitochondria, Endoplasmatic Reticulum, Golgi, ect.) and substructures (cytoskeleton).
Composition, properties and functional relevance of biomembranes.
Ion channel and carrier mediated transport of small molecules through membranes.
Protein transport into organelles as well as in and out of cells (endocytosis/secretion).
The cytoskeleton: composition, regulatory proteins and intracellular transport events.
Contact/communication between cells via junctions; the concept of tissues and the extracellular matrix.
Complex processes that integrate several features: propagation of action potential along nerve cells; muscle contraction, energy conversion in mitochondria

Assessment methods

written exam

Teaching methods

Power point presentation

Language

German

Language

German

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

Lecture contents

The internship serves as an introduction for the students to work independently. The tasks begin with the search for a suitable internship and internship supervisor. Students learn under the supervision of a professional the relevant professional practice in a biotechnology company/research institute and/or independent scientific work. During the internship the subject-, methodological and social competencies acquired during the study, will be implemented in the desired field of occupational activity and practically consolidated.
Another important teaching content is to summarize the internship results in form of an internship report and the documentation of scientific results.

Assessment methods

Assessment of practical supervisor

Teaching methods

Practical

Language

German-English

Lecture contents

In this course the students will get a crash-course in "how to handle an automatic pipet". Then the students perform several restriction digestions in order to map an unknown piece of DNA. At the end of the course, the students determine the concentration of an unknown DNA-Sample spectrophotometrically (including calculation).

Assessment methods

Enthusiasm, Protocol in English

Teaching methods

Independent work in the laboratory
Introductory remarks from the lector/tutor
Independent drawing of a plasmid map
Writing of a protocol

Language

German

Lecture contents

Undertaking independent research on a scientific topic and then writing a Master thesis.

Assessment methods

Expert assessment

Teaching methods

Research

Language

German-English

Lecture contents

Undertaking independent research on a scientific topic and then writing a Master thesis.

Assessment methods

Expert assessment

Teaching methods

Research

Language

German-English

Lecture contents

Biotechnology
recombinant DNA - molecular cloning
restriction enzymes, enzymes used for molecular cloning
plamids - vectors - cloning systems
ligation - transformation
expression plasmids - recombinant protein expression
molecular cloning strategies
bacterial strains for cloning or protein expression

Assessment methods

written Exam

Teaching methods

Lecture

Language

German

Lecture contents

Topics:
Detection of Nucleic Acids
PCR
Western blot
Growth of Microorganisms
Antibodies and their use in Molecular Biology
Centrifugation
Protein Purification
Southern and Northern blot
Primer and Hybridization
Proteinexpression
Microarray
Flurescence in Molecular Biology
Sequencing
Isolation and Purification of Nucleic Acids from various Organisms
Primer and Hybridisation
Primer design for cloning of a gene

Assessment methods

Preparation, Oral Presentation, Participation in Discussions, written exam at the end of the seminar

Teaching methods

Seminar, topic preparation in small groups (4-5), oral presentation in small groups (9-10), 15 minutes presentation, discussion, preparation of a handout

Language

German

Lecture contents

A journey through the cell: What is a gene? What is DNA, hybridization, methods for the analysis of gene expression, including DNA chips. Dynamics of DNA (replication including methods such as PCR and DNA sequencing, DNA repair, recombination), central dogma, structure and function of RNA, transcription, translation, genetic code and the mechanisms of differential gene activity. Mutation. Gene isolation (cloning), basics of forward and reverse genetics, model organisms, genome research.
The genetic jungle: forward genetics (Mendel genetics), Meiosis, recombination, gene mapping. What is the phenotype? Monofactorial inherited diseases and multifactorial diseases. Clinical phenotypes. Deviations from Mendelian inheritence (penetrance, locus heterogeneity, allelic heterogeneity, etc.).
The cell cycle with biochemical structure of DNA, chromatin, nucleosome, DNA-replication including telomere replication, methods like PCR and DNA sequencing, mutation frequencies and DNA repair, individual processes in mitosis, cell cycle control points, cytostatica, regulation by protein kinases).
The topics of are coordinated with topics of the lecture course "General Biology": evolution including mutation and selection, molecular evolution (rRNA-genes), endosymbiosis, and others.
This lecture lays the foundation of a lecture of the same name in the 2. Semester, in which the same topics are deepened, with emphasis on molecular-biological methods.

Assessment methods

Written exam on the last day of the course or in coordination with students.
24 points, 12 points for a pass.

Teaching methods

Lecture
CD Learning software by Hoffmann-LaRoche, presentation and self-learning of each student.
Powerpoint presentations
Black board
Downloads

Lecture contents

Gene expression in general and in prokaryotes: RNA-polymerase, promoter-terminator, transcription, translation, antibiotics.
Gene expression in eukaryotes: Genomes, genome sizes, repetitive DNA, mobile genes, reversible chromatin structure: Eukaryotic promoters, RNA-processing. Post-translational modifications: signal peptides, translation at rough ER, protein degradation.
Signal transduction in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: response regulators, different receptors (G-protein-coupled, tyrosin-kinase-coupled, etc.), ion channels, second messengers (cAMP, cGMP, NO, etc.)
Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: Lac operon, tryp operon. Transformation, transduction, conjugation.
Viruses: lytic and lysogenic cycle. Influenza virus, HIV.
Principles of gene cloning: restriction enzymes, vectors and hosts (expression in prokaryotes, in yeast, in plants, in mammalian cells).

Assessment methods

Written exam on the last day of the course or in coordination with students.
24 points, 12 points for a pass.

Teaching methods

Lecture
Powerpoint presentations
Black board
Downloads

Language

German-English

Lecture contents

RNA methods:
- Northern blot (glucose/galactose metabolism in yeast, RNA extraction from yeast, denaturing RNA agarose gel, RNA transfer, specific oligonucleotide hybridization, band detection, quantitative PCR)
- EMSA (in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase, RNA purification, RNA folding, native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, RNA staining using methylene blue, detection of RNP complexes)
- RNA stability (temperature dependence, pH dependence, RNAses)

Assessment methods

Continuous assessment
Continuous assessment - presence, motivation, participation, practical skills (results), written report.

Teaching methods

Laboratory

Language

English

Lecture contents

In this course research papers from internationally respected high-quality journals from the field of RNA research 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

Continuous assessment
Participation in discussion

Teaching methods

Seminar

Language

English

Lecture contents

RNA fundamentals, RNA structure, catalytic RNAs, RNA processing, RNA splicing, RNA editing, riboswitches, RNA applications, non-coding RNAs, RNAi, RNA world, SELEX

Assessment methods

Final exam
Written exam at the end of the course.

Teaching methods

Lecture

Language

English