NBIK24002U Molecular Mechanisms in Metabolic Disease

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Biology

MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject

MSc Programme in Molecular Biomedicine

MSc Programme in Biochemistry

MSc Programme in Human Physiology

Content

The course covers cutting edge experimental and theoretical knowledge within metabolic research and the role of metabolic adaptation and dysfunction in disease development. The course provides the student with in-depth knowledge on the regulatory networks that control intracellular metabolism and how changes in these contribute to the development of metabolically driven diseases such as obesity and diabetes as well as related co- morbidities.

Learning Outcome

The student will obtain up to date knowledge within metabolic research that has application both in academia and the pharmaceutical sector. The focus will be on reading, understanding, presenting and discussing current literature. The student will through interpretation and evaluation of research findings gain understanding of experimental design and methods frequently used in metabolic research.

Knowledge:
The student will obtain detailed knowledge and a solid foundation within selected fields of metabolism, covering areas such as mitochondrial function, bioenergetics, regulation of substrate choice and metabolic control of transcription. The student will gain knowledge of how these processes contribute to the control of whole body metabolism and development of diseases such as diabetes and obesity.  

Skills:
The student will obtain detailed theoretical knowledge within the field of metabolism. The student will be able to integrate and interpret metabolically related knowledge and experimental findings related to both health and disease. The student will understand experimental design and commonly used methods in metabolic research.

Competences:

The student will be able to integrate and interpret metabolically related knowledge and experimental findings related to both health and disease. The student will be able to design hypothesis-driven experiments to test metabolically related research questions. Moreover, the student will be able to present and discuss scientific papers and experimentally obtained data.

See Absalon.

It is recommended that students have knowledge within cell biology and biochemistry corresponding to the bachelor level in Biology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biomedicine.

Cellular and Integrative Physiology is a relevant complementary course to follow alongside this course, but is not required.
Lectures in selected topics will form the basis of the course. These will be coupled to class teaching, which will include data analysis and research design as well as presentation and discussion of original literature.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 150
  • Exercises
  • 33
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Total
  • 206
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam, 3 hours under invigilation
Aid
All aids allowed

If not selected for ITX exam:

Exam problems will be handled out in paper format, and you must answer the problems on exam paper, which is available at your desk and from the invigilators in your exam room.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Oral examination, 30 minutes with no preparation time and no aids allowed.

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.