Course detail

Molecular Biology

FSI-TBIAcad. year: 2025/2026

Basic terms of molecular biology. Chemical properties, structure and interactions of nucleic acids and proteins. Methods of biomacromolecules studies, genomics, proteomics, molecular diagnostics. Biosensors, nanotechnology applications in biomacromolecules studies.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Basics of physics, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, biochemistry and general biology

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The assessment of a student is made upon his performance in practice and quality of a discussion on topics selected at the examination (lecture notes allowed at preparation).
The presence of students at practice is obligatory and is monitored by a tutor. The way how to compensate missed practice lessons will be decided by a tutor depending on the range and content of the missed lessons.

Aims

Educate the students in basics or molecular biology, particularly in properties of nucleic acids and proteins. The emphases will be put to physico-chemical properties of biopolymers and utilization of these properties in bioanalytical applications, biosensors and nanotechnologies.

The course facilitates a choice of a diploma project by a student and provides him/her basic knowledge on molecular biology as well as interdisciplinary themes at frontiers of molecular biology, physical and analytical chemistry, biophysics, nanosciences and biomedical applications.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BLACKBURN GM and GAIT MJ.: Nucleic Acids in Chemistry and Biology (Oxford University Press 1996 - second edition)
LODISH H. et al.: Molecular Cell Biology (Freeman and Co., 2003)
ROSYPAL S. Úvod do molekulární biologie

Recommended reading

ALBERTS, B. a kol: Základy buněčné biologie. Espero Publishing, Ústí nad Labem, 2001.
NEČAS, O. a kol.: Obecná biologie, H & H, Praha, 2000.
PALEČEK, E et al. (ed.): Electrochemistry of nucleic acids and proteins. Towards electrochemical sensors for genomics and proteomics, Elsevier 2005
WATSON J.D.a kol: Rekombinantní DNA, Academia Praha, 1988

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-FIN-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Definition of the molecular biology subject. From atoms and molecules to living cells. Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides. Chemical nature of biomacromolecules, basic interaction types. Organized structures, membranes, organelles, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. (0-6 lessons)

Structure and interactions of nucleic acids. DNA double helix. Left-handed DNA, hairpins, triplexes, tetraplexes. DNA supercoiling. Replication, transcription, recombination. Chemical reactivity of nucleic acids, non-covalent interactions. DNA damage and repair, mutagenesis. Nucleic acids-processing enzymes. RNAs and their biological functions. (7-20 lessons)

Methods of the nucleic acids studies. Optical methods, electrophoresis, Southern and northern blotting, DNA sequencing, DNA hybridization, PCR, enzymatic and chemical probes of DNA structure, DNA footprinting. Recombinant DNA. Synthetic analogues of nucleic acids, DNA labeling. Biosensors, gene chips, genomics. Electrochemistry of nucleic acids, interactions with electrically charged surfaces. Aptamers. Nanotechnology in nucleic acids analysis. (21-28 lessons)

Proteins. Amino acids, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Conjugated proteins. Genetic code and proteosynthesis. Denaturation and aggregation of proteins. Protein engineering. Nucleic acids-protein interactions. (29-34 lessons)

Methods of protein studies. Optical methods, electrophoresis, western blotting, immunochemical techniques. Chemical probes, protein sequencing. Proteomics, 2D electrophoresis, mass spectrometry. Protein chips, immunosensors, enzyme sensors. Protein electrochemistry; conjugated proteins bearing reversible redox centers and non-conjugated proteins, catalytic hydrogen evolution on mercury and amalgam electrodes. Nanotechnology in protein analysis. (35-39 lessons)

Laboratory exercise

3 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Practical demonstrations of methods of the nucleic acids and protein analysis in laboratories of the Institute of Biophysics, ASCR, v.v.i.

Exercise

10 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Discussion of lectured themes, practicing, solving worked examples.

E-learning texts

prezentace 1-4
VUT1.ppt 5.16 MB
VUT2.ppt 10.31 MB
VUT3.ppt 11.96 MB
VUT-proteiny.ppt 4.36 MB
prezentace pro mol biol
VUT-proteiny.ppt 4.7 MB
Bi7015_MF_1_up.pptx 25.03 MB
enzymy pro molekularni biologii
enzymes_S1001_2.ppt 4.02 MB
superhelicita DNA
DNA_supercoiling_up.pptx 8.42 MB
elektrochemicke metody - elektrochemie DNA
electrochemistry_DNA2020.pptx 15.98 MB