Details

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

Expression of the genome
• Mechanism of transcription (DNA -> RNA)
• Splicing of RNA
• Translation (RNA -> protein)
• The genetic code
Regulation of gene expression
• Transcriptional regulation in prokaryotes
• Transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes
• Regulatory RNAs
Gene regulation in development and evolution
Basic methods of molecular biology
• nucleic acids
• proteins
Signal transduction
cell death
model organisms

Assessment methods

Written exam on the last day of the course or in coordination with students.

Teaching methods

Lecture
Powerpoint presentations
Videos

Language

German-English

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

Lecture contents

The course will deal with all four areas of language skills: reading/writing/talking/listening.

The emphasis in the 3rd semester will be on spoken English (presentations (spontaneous and prepared)).

Oral presentations will be an important part of the semesters's work.

Grammar revision (where appropriate) will be offerred.

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE LESSON IS VERY IMPORTANT AND WILL BE GRADED!

Assessment methods

Your command of English, both spoken and written, will be continuously assessed during the semester and will be reflected in the final semester mark. Moreover your active participation in the lessons will also contribute to the overall mark.

Teaching methods

Spontaneous and prepared presentations. Brainstormings, Discussions, Debates. ‘Language clinics’. Individual, pair- and group-work. Self-reflection is a major focus of the course.

Language

English

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

Students learn the basics of genetics and molecular biology with the following topics:
• Genetics - Mendel
• Classic genetics - gene mapping
• genetic defects
• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) - structure and function
• Genome structure, chromatin and nucleosomes
• chromosomes
• Replication of the DNA
• cell cycle
• Mitosis - meiosis
• Mutations and repair mechanisms
• Homologous recombination
• Sequence-specific recombination
• Transposable elements

Assessment methods

Written exam on the last day of the course or in coordination with students.

Teaching methods

Lecture
Powerpoint presentations
Videos

Language

German

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

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

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

In this course, the subject areas of the courses "Molecular Biology and Genetics I and II" from the first year of study are partly repeated, deepened and expanded. The individual needs of the students are addressed, i. H. At the beginning of the course, the subject areas to be dealt with are determined together with the students.

Assessment methods

written exam

Teaching methods

Lecture

Language

German

Lecture contents

The function of genes is central in this internship where students perform a continuous experiment in a bacterial system. The students get to know methods of protein analysis. The expression of a recombinant protein is first studied in small scale (expression cloning in E. coli). The time course of protein expression is analyzed with the aid of Western blots. After upscaling the culture volume under the previously worked out conditions, the recombinant protein is purified by affinity chromatography (HIS-Tag purification) and finally analyzed, dialyzed and the amount of protein obtained is determined quantitatively.
Lab Report: in the form of a scientific publication - abstract, introduction, M&M, results, discussion, literature and citations.

Assessment methods

Final grade: lab report, final examination, motivation, cooperation, practical skills (results)

Teaching methods

Alternative Methods

Lecture contents

bachelor thesis results frominternship

Assessment methods

Grading of the finished bachelor thesis

Teaching methods

completed bachelor thesis

Language

German-English

Lecture contents

The Bachelor's examination is the final examination of the Bachelor's programme before an examination senate relevant to the subject. The students present results from their work experience in the form of a lecture. Students are interviewed by the examination senate on their presentation as well as on central theoretical and practical topics of the Bachelor's programme.

Assessment methods

Up to 20 points are awarded for the presentation by the examination senate. Up to 20 points are also awarded for the subsequent survey for presentation purposes. Up to 30 points are awarded for answering questions on central theoretical and practical topics of the bachelor's programme. The sum of these points results in the overall grade for the Bachelor examination.

Teaching methods

Activating methods: presentation and oral examination

Language

German-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

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