NBIK09021U Principal Subject in Protein Chemistry 1

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Biochemistry

Content

First of 3 modules of project work on Protein Chemistry.
Students complete three modules of one subject-line by following three blocks.

The course deals with protein structure, function and biological interactions. Topics range from biophysics and biochemistry to cellular functions and interactions of proteins including enzymes. The purpose of the course is to read and understand the current literature on protein structure and function and to grasp methodologies for investigations of structure, stability, interactions and activity. The course is based on novel peer-reviewed articles supplemented with reviews. Classes are structured around student presentation of papers selected by teachers with expert knowledge as well as student selected papers and topics. For each three-hour session, three student presentations will take place. Students in the audience will have all read the papers presented and will have prepared questions for discussion guided by the teacher.

The students are introduced to innovation and entrepreneurship through presentations by external members of the relevant industrial community.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:
The student will have obtained knowledge of specific research areas (differing from module to module and from block to block) including different experimental and theoretical approaches.

Skills:
Based on original research literature, the student will be able to explain, evaluate and critically analyse the results, the methods used and the conclusions drawn and compare with other relevant literature. In addition, they will be able to present and explain the background literature for peers.

Competences:
The student can demonstrate a capacity to critically understand original scientific research papers dealing with subjects in protein chemistry, including knowledge and understanding of the specific problem to be analysed, the experimental set-up, the methods employed, the experimental results and the conclusions drawn from these, and discuss this understanding with fellow students under the guidance of the teacher. In this phase the students shall primarily have learned to 1) appreciate the efforts of scientists without an a priory opinion of the scientific subject of the paper and 2) demonstrate the ability to ask questions of procedures and conclusions.

The student will, with the completion of all three modules, be capable of understanding the basis for specific conclusions in a field and will therefore understand the consequences of technical or experimental future developments when they occur.

Literature

See Absalon.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
The teaching takes the form of student colloquia and discussions based on reading of original research articles and data.
Only one of the principal subjects (Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Microbiology or Protein Chemistry) can be chosen. All modules (1, 2 and 3) must be within the same principal subject.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 178
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Active participation during the course. The criterion for active participation is
1) that the student has satisfactorily presented at least one seminar to fellow students during the course and
2) has participated actively with relevant questions/comments in at least 7 of the 9 sessions (80%).
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

If the student has not fulfilled the requirements for presentation of at least one seminar, the student can present a seminar of 45 minutes in a subject decided by the teacher.

If the student has not fulfilled the requirements for active participation in at least 80% of the sessions, the student must take the course again next year.

Criteria for exam assesment

1) See 'Learning Outcome'

2) Active participation. See 'Type of assessment'.