Principles of Molecular Biology

Syllabus

Content of lectures: Introduction to biology and definition of life. Minimal organism and synthetic biology.

Diversity of life at cellular level. Evolutionary theory and questions, which the theory raised about heredity and organism diversity.

Cell as a basic unit of life. Mendel's genetics, chromosomal theory of inheritance, Thomas Morgan.Bacteria and Archea.Metabolism - cell bioenergetics, respiration and photosynthesis.

Cell compartments.Cracking genetic code. Central dogma - gene expression.DNA replication.

Methods of molecular biology - PCR, genome sequencing, genomic era.Genetic diversity - germline vs. somatic line, mitosis/meiosis. Mutations.

Recombination.Gene expression regulation, cell differentiation and epigenetics.Intercellular communication, cell cycle regulation, cancer, growth.Plant cell.Cell behavior during development. Evo-Devo.Experimental biology and model organisms.

Modern biology in application.

Annotation

The goal of this course is to explain a molecular basis of life and describe the cell as a basic unit of life. Student will explore the historical aspects of discoveries leading to our current knowledge in molecular and cellular biology and then the focus will be given to connections between molecular and cellular biology including bioenergetics, genetics and development, molecular and hereditary aspects of evolution and Evo/Devo.

Most of the course will be built up on genes and their functioning within the context of the cell and the whole organism, ultimately leading to diversity of life and evolution.