Fundamentals and methods of genetic engineering

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Fundamentals and methods of genetic engineering

Biochemistry N 004

Chemical Engineering T 005

Life Sciences Center

Institute of Biotechnology

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

1

Self-studies

6

Seminars

1

Aims of course

The aim of the course is to deepen doctoral students' knowledge in the field of genetic engineering so that they understand the basic principles and methods of genetic engineering, recombinant DNA development techniques and analytical strategies at the genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics levels, get acquainted with the latest achievements in this field, analytically and critically analyze, link, evaluate opportunities, problems and perspectives of the use of genetic engineering technologies in medicine and biotechnology; understand the problems, benefits and drawbacks in the development of genetically modified organisms, be able to transfer the acquired knowledge and facts and participate in scientific discussion.

For the studies of the genetic engineering program, it is recommended that doctoral students have taken courses in molecular biology, general genetics and biochemistry in the higher education study program.

Main topics

1. Enzymes as instruments for genetic engineering.
2. Restriction modification phenomenon, restriction endonucleases.
3. Construction of recombinant DNA - variety of vector systems in bacteria and eukaryotes, main mechanisms of plasmid replication, principles and strategies of gene cloning, restriction mapping, construction of gene libraries, application of DNA mutagenesis in genetic engineering.
4. Synthesis of recombinant proteins in heterologous systems.
5. Methods for gene and genome research and gene function investigation: recDNA search methods - electrophoretic, DNA hybridization, PCR, RL-PCR, SAGE, EST, CAGE, fluorescence spectroscopy methods and microarray technologies, mass parallel sequencing, polymorphism research methods.
6. Methods for searching and fixing recombinant products at the proteome level.
7. siRNA, miRNA, piRNA and other small RNAs, their functions and applications.
8. Non-coding RNA and its role in regulation of gene activity.
9. Synthesis of genes and genomes.
10. Genome editing and genome editing tools, CRISPR system.
11. Application of recombinant DNA technologies in biotechnology, agriculture, industry and medicine (synthesis of heterologous proteins, transgenic system for plants and animals, principles and problems of transgenic organism construction, benefits and problems of GMO, gene therapy, cancer therapy, recombinant vaccines, etc.).

Main literature

1. Apžvalgos periodiniuose žurnaluose: Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology; Nature Reviews Genetics; Nature Reviews Microbiology.
2. Biotechnology, 2nd Editon. Eds. D.P.Clark and N.J.Pazdernik. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2015.
3. Desmond S. Nicholl T. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering, 3th edition, Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press ir e-textbook, 2008.
4. Real-Time PCR. Eds. N.A.Saunders and M.A Lee. Caester Acad.Press, 2013.
5. http://www.globalchange.com/geneticengin.htm
6. http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/GEessays/gedanger.htm
7. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NNdn_M6ahasC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Genetic+Engineering&source=bl&ots=d1J2tnYcMs&sig=U5NHOx_GvagehoZ8NJAfo16a0Y0&hl=en&ei=Vs0qTcOyE4maOvH4mY8D&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFEQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false
8. Handbook of plant biotechnology, vols.1, 2. Eds. P.Christou, H.Klee. J.Wiley @ Sons, 2005.
9. Production of recombinant proteins. Novel microbial and eukaryotic expression systems. Ed. G.Gellissen. Wiley-VCH, 2005.
10. Methods in yeast genetics. A Cold Spring Harbor laboratory course manual. Eds. D.C.Amberg, D.J.Burke, J.N.Strathern. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, NY, 2005.
11. Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual. J. Sambrook, D.W. Russel. 3rd ed. Vol. 1-4. Cold Spring Harbor
12. Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbour, New York, 2001. www.MolecularCloning.com

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Seminar

For the seminar one question from the topics described in “Main topics” section is selected. It may be related to the research conducted by the PhD student. The student presents report, using the relevant recent literature and the basic knowledge set out in the description of the “Main Topics” above, discusses his/her planned or ongoing research connected to the doctoral student’s planned or ongoing research on the chosen topic.

The duration of the presentation is 45-50 minutes, the number of discussed scientific articles is not limited.

Evaluation criteria are related to the disclosure of a scientific problem based on basic knowledge and a review of the latest literature, ability to discuss and answer the questions and the validity of the interpretation of available or planned results.

Alma Gedvilaitė

Gintautas Žvirblis

Approved by the Council of Doctoral School of Life Sciences Center No (4.10)600000-KT-… on the 14th of October 2021

Chairman dr. Daiva Baltriukienė