Basics of Molecular Biology

COURSE CURRICULUM

1.

Course title

BASICS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

2.

Code

HM-70Б

3.

Study curriculum

Applied chemistry – analytical biochemistry

4.

Organizer of the curriculum (institute, department)

PMF, Institute of Chemistry

5.

Degree (BSc, MSc, PhD)

BSc

6.

Academic year/semester

IV/VII

7.

ECTS points

6

8.

Lecturer

Dr. Slavica Josifovska

9.

Prerequisites

Biochemistry I

10.

Course objectives (competences):
Students should acquire basic and extended knowledge of molecular biology, the structure and function of biomacromolecules (DNA, RNA and proteins) and the basic processes: replication, transcription and translation.

11.

Course content:
Introduction - basic concepts and historical overview. Definition of molecular biology. A brief historical overview. A central dogma of molecular biology. DNA molecules as carriers of genetic information; Avery's experiment; the Hirschey and Chase experiment. Basic characteristics of the hereditary material; DNA structure; Watson-Crick model for the structure of the DNA molecule; structural organization of the DNA molecule in chromosomes; superhelix structure of circular DNA molecules; nucleosomal organization of DNA in eukaryotes. DNA replication; the Meselson and Stahl experiment; DNA polymerases; initiation of replication; replication fork; elongation; replisome - molecular machine for DNA replication; specifics of DNA replication in eukaryotes; replication problem with telomere ends; termination of DNA replication. Transcription - synthesis of RNA following a DNA template. Structure and function of RNA molecules. Transcription in prokaryotes; transcription initiation, transcription elongation and transcription termination in E. coli. Transcription in eukaryotes. Post-transcriptional modifications; processing of the 5' and 3' ends of the primary transcript from protein-coding genes. RNA splicing - remodeling of the primary RNA transcript; alternative splicing. Translation - protein synthesis. Genetic code. Transport RNA; binding of amino acids to tRNA. Ribosomes as translation machinery. Translation process; translation initiation, elongation and termination. Proteins - nomenclature, size of protein molecules. Levels of protein structure - primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Structural classification of proteins. Examples of globular, fibrillar and membrane proteins. Regulation of translation; posttranslational developments. Posttranslational modification of proteins.

12.

Teaching methods: lectures and experimental work

13.

Total available time

180 hours

14.

Time distribution

4+0+2 часови неделно (lectures, experimental work, independent work, projects, homework)

15.

Teaching methods distribution

15.1.

Teaching – lectures

60 hours

15.2.

Practicals (laboratory, problem solving), seminars, team work

30 hours

16.

Other activities

16.1.

Projects

30 hours

16.2.

Independent work

10 hours

16.3.

Homework

50 hours

17.

Grading methods

17.1.

Tests

minimum 40 points, maximum 80 points

17.2.

Seminars/projects (written/oral presentation)

17.3.

Activity

18.

Grading scale (points/mark)

< 56.00 points

5 (five) (F)

56.00 to 65.99 points

6 (six) (E)

66.00 to 75.99 points

7 (seven) (D)

76.00 to 84.99 points

8 (eight) (C)

85.00 to 92.99 points

9 (nine) (B)

93.00 to 100.00 points

10 (ten) (A)

19.

Criteria for taking the final exam

The criteria is regular attendance at practical classes (absences of a maximum of 2 exercises). To pass the exam/earn the credits, it is necessary to score a minimum of 56 points. The exam cannot be passed if the minimum points are not obtained from both the practical part and the minimum points from each of the colloquiums for the theoretical part, individually. Points from regularity and activity in lectures are not mandatory, but they take part in the calculation.

20.

Course language

Macedonian

21.

Teaching quality control

Surveys

22.

Literature

22.1.

Compulsory

No.

Author

Title

Publisher

Year

1.

Сашо Панов

Основи на молекуларната биологија и молекуларната генетика

УКИМ

2014

2.

3.

22.2.

Additional

No.

Author

Title

Publisher

Year

1.

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P.

Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th edition

Garland Science

2007

2.

Watson JD, Baker TA, Bell SP, Gann A, Levine M, Losick R.

Molecular Biology of the Gene. 6th edition

Benjamin Cummings

2007

3.

4.