NBIK10011U Principal Subject in Molecular Cell Biology 1

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc Programme in Biochemistry

Content

First of 3 modules of project work on Molecular Cell Biology.

The course discusses topics relating to molecular cell biology, with a focus on mammalian organisms, with information from the best sources including model organisms. Keywords for the topics that have been discussed  are chromatin, tmRNA, the fos gene, tumor supressors, cytosine deaminase, ras activity, micro RNA, senescense, embryonic stem cells, ageing, RNAPolII termination and mismatch repair - some have recurrred, some have, so far, only been on once. Each block is devoted to one such topic, where journal articles that illustrate the development of our insight into the subject have been selected. Each of the articles is presented by a student, and the other students will prepare questions for the points in the papers they want discussed. Thus, a significant amount of time is used for an in-depth, student driven, discussion of the issues, including the methodologies used. Therefore, in addition to training and feedback of presentation skills, methods and knowledge pertaining to changing subjects are acquired by the students.

Learning Outcome

Students complete three modules of one subject-line by following three blocks.

The student will, with the completion of the 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.

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 molecular cell biology, 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.

See Absalon.

Project work, Colloquia.
The teaching is open to MSc-students of biochemistry. Other MSc-students may be admitted, but priority will be given to MSc-students in biochemistry. Only one of the principal subjects (Immunology, Molecular Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Microbiology or Protein Chemistry) can be chosen. All modules (1, 2 and 3) must be within the same principal subject. It is mandatory for MSc-students of biochemistry to follow one of the principal subjects.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 28
  • E-Learning
  • 5
  • Preparation
  • 173
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
The course module 1 is approved/not approved by the teachers on the basis of active participation. The criterion for active participation in module 1 is
1) that the student has satisfactorily presented at least two seminars to fellow students during the course and 2) has participated actively with relevant questions/comments in at least 7 of the 9 sessions.
Exam registration requirements

To be eligible for evaluation the student must participate in 80% of the sessions.

Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Re-exam

If the student is eligible for evaluation but has not fulfilled the requirements for active participation, the student can present a seminar of 45 minutes in a subject decided by the teacher.

Criteria for exam assesment

Active participation. See under "Type of assessment".