Module I: Fundamentals of Molecular Biology
- Nucleic acids. Molecular structure. Gene. Gene structure.
- Genome. Organization of the genome in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Replication and maintenance of genetic material.
- Transcription and post-transcriptional regulation levels.
- Translation and post-translational regulatory mechanisms.
Module II: Genetic Engineering
- Gene regulatory sequences, promoters, and enhancer sequences.
- Vectors: Types, design and selection.
- Polymerase chain reaction. Primer design. Agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Molecular tools for genetic manipulation I: Restriction enzymes and ligases.
- Molecular tools for genetic manipulation II: zinc fingers, recombinases, effector nucleases such as transcription activators.
Module III: Expression of recombinant proteins
- Recombinant protein expression systems. Cell culture. Cell lines.
- Purification of recombinant proteins. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins. Identification of biological polymers: Southern, northern and western blot.
- Production of biopharmaceuticals: insulin, growth hormone, monoclonal antibodies.
Module IV: Bioinformatics, Genomics and Modeling
- DNA sequencing. Genomics. Genome annotation and assembly. Transcriptomics and proteomics.
- Bioinformatics and databases. Three-dimensional analysis of biomolecules. Introduction to drug development.
Module V: Gene editing: CRISPR-Cas, gene therapy and recombinant vaccines.
- CRISPR-Cas9, Cas12, and other variants. Strategies for in vivo use of CRISPR therapy. Pros and cons.
- Gene therapy: viral and non-viral vectors. Applications of gene editing in gene therapy.
- Cell therapy, regenerative medicine. Ethical considerations.
- Recombinant vaccines. DNA and RNA vaccines.
Module VI: Genetic Engineering in Agriculture and Industrial Biotechnology
- Generation of genetically modified crops.
- Applications of genetic engineering in industry and the environment. Bioremediation and biofuel production.
- Genetic transformation in plants: Agrobacterium tumefaciens and biolistics. Improvement of agronomic characteristics.
Module VII: Ethics, regulations and the future of genetic engineering
- Ethical aspects of human genome editing (somatic and germ cells)
- Intellectual property and patents in biotechnology
- Mutagenesis, directed evolution, phage display. New trends and future perspectives: Synthetic biology and bionanotechnology.
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