3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1010269BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Students bachelor Bio-engineering Sciences must have followed 'Biochemistry' and 'General and Molecular Genetics including Bio-Ethics Seminars', before they can enroll for 'Gentechnology'. Students bachelor Biology must have followed 'Biochemistry' and 'Genetics', before they can enroll for 'Gentechnology'. Enrolling in 'Gentechnology' means that students in the preparatory programme master biology simultaneously follow 'Genetics' or have successfully passed 'Genetics'.
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Bio-Engineering Sciences
Educational team
Charles Van der Henst (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

In this course the following items are discussed: (1) the enzymes (restriction enzymes, DNA and RNA polymerases, DNA and RNA ligases, phosphatases, kinases, transferases, nucleases), (2) different detection techniques, (3) the use and synthesis of synthetic primers (primer design, modifications), (4) the DNA sequencing techniques, (5) PCR technology, (6) Tn-seq, EMSA and CRISPR/Cas9 methods, (7) cloning vectors, (8) expression vectors in prokaryotes (promoters, plasmid copy number en stability, integration in the genome, codon usage, fusion proteins and tags) and in eukaryotes such as yeast (S. cerevisiae, P. pastoris), insect cells (Baculovirus) and animal cells, (9) transgenic animals and plants and (10) reverse genetics in bacteria (transposon mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis), plants and animals.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Detailed course Gene Technology
Practical course material (Required) : Reference works (books, articles) will be announced and/or handed over to the students
Additional info

Students can contact Charles Van der Henst by email (charles.van.der.henst@vub.be). Power point presentation of the course Gene technology

Complementary study material:
References are communicated (books) to or copies (articles) are given to the students.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Objectives
The students will learn the techniques used in molecular biology to analyse and manipulate nucleic acids. The use of gene technology in fundamental research and application in industry will be illustrated.

Endterms
To make the students familiar with the different techniques used in molecular biology and biotechnology.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Written exam on the content of the course.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Written exam on the content of the course.
The student should have a fundamental understanding of gene technology and the applications of this technology.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Biology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Biology: Molecular&Cellular LifeScience (only offered in Dutch)