Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Protein and Genetic Engineering

• code 13554
• course 3
• term Semester 2
• type op
• credits 6

Module: ELECTIVE

Matter: ELECTIVE

Main language of instruction: English

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish

Head instructor

MsU Yolanda Jacoba DE ROO - yjderoo@uic.es

Other instructors

Dra. Jenifer OLMOS - jolmos@uic.es

Office hours

Please send an email to set-up a meeting: 

Yolanda de Roo: yjderoo@uic.es

Jenifer Olmos: jolmos@uic.es

The course Protein and Genetic engineering focuses on how genetic editing strategies can be employed to obtain a desired protein or functional effect. It will start with the principal molecular biology dogma, deepen towards (epi)genetic regulation, protein creation and protein interactions. The second part of the course focusses on DNA detection and editing laboratory techniques, and how biomaterials are offering new strategies with Bioengineering purposes. 

Molecular and cell biology

-      To understand basic and advanced genetic regulation

-      To understand protein generation and protein engineering strategies

-      To familiarize with protein databases and protein analysis software

-      To know the DNA detection and gene editing laboratory techniques

-      To know new advancements concerning biomaterials and genetic/protein delivery strategies

• CB1 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study based on general secondary education. This knowledge should be of a level that, although based on advanced textbooks, also includes some of the cutting-edge elements from their field of study.
• CB2 - Students must know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and have the competences that are demonstrated through the creation and defence of arguments and the resolution of problems within their field of study.
• CB3 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) and to issue judgements that include a reflection on important issues that are social, scientific or ethical in nature.
• CB4 - Students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• CE17 - To be able to identify the engineering concepts that can be applied in the fields of biology and health.
• CE19 - To know how to select and apply material based on its properties and electric, magnetic, mechanical and chemical behaviour
• CE21 - The ability to understand and apply biotechnological methodologies and tools to research, as well as to the development and production of products and services.
• CE6 - To incorporate the foundations of science and materials technology, while taking into account the relationship between microstructure, synthesis or process and the properties of materials.
• CE7 - To know how to recognise anatomy and physiology when applied to the structures Bioengineering involves.
• CG10 - To know how to work in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment.
• CG3 - To be able to learn new methods and theories and be versatile so as to adapt to new situations.
• CG4 - To resolve problems based on initiative, be good at decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and communication, as well as the transmission of knowledge, skills and prowess in the field of Bioengineering
• CG7 - To analyse and evaluate the social and environmental impact of technical solutions
• CT3 - To know how to communicate learning results to other people both verbally and in writing, and well as thought processes and decision-making; to participate in debates in each particular specialist areas.
• CT5 - To use information sources in a reliable manner. To manage the acquisition, structuring, analysis and visualisation of data and information in your specialist area and critically evaluate the results of this management.
• CT6 - To detect gaps in your own knowledge and overcome this through critical reflection and choosing better actions to broaden your knowledge.
• CT7 - To be fluent in a third language, usually English, with a suitable verbal and written level that is in line with graduate requirements.

Finalizing this course, the student will be able to: 

-      Interpret genetic engineering strategies for clinical purposes

-      Design their own DNA editing strategy to obtain a desired protein

-      Interpret protein-protein interactions and how mutations affect them

-      Understand the different DNA detection techniques

GENETICS AND PROTEIN MODULATION

1. Genetic regulation in healthy and diseased tissue
2. Epigenetic modulation strategies for tissue engineering purposes 
3. Protein therapy strategies 
4. Proteomics to develop tissue engineering strategies
5. Bioengineering of therapeutic proteins
6. COMPUTATIONAL PROTEIN INTERACTION PROJECT  

GENETIC DESIGN AND TECHNIQUES

1. Genetic techniques 
2. DNA constructs
3. Applications of genetic engineering 
4. Biomaterial-based genetic systems (past and future strategies)
5. FUSION PROTEIN DESIGN PROJECT 
6. LABORATORY DNA PRACTICES 

COMPUTATIONAL PROTEIN INTERACTION PROJECT 

Student will work with a computational software and databases to understand protein interactions and crystal structure. 

FUSION PROTEIN DESIGN PROJECT 

FN-OCN fusion protein assignment with database DNA sequence search. The student will understand genetical editing strategies to design a functional fusion protein for Bioengineering purposes. 

LABORATORY DNA PRACTICES 

Laboratory work handling bacterial plasmids, restriction enzymes and electrophoresis to execute previously defined plasmid DNA restriction strategy. 

Classroom lectures 

Individual projects

Laboratory practices 

First sitting: 

1. Midterm exam 20%
2. Computational project 5% *
3. Fusion protein project 5% *
4. Laboratory 10% *
5. Final exam 60%

A minimal mark of 4.5 should be obtained in the final exam and 100% attendance to both projects and laboratory (*) to pass the course.  The same evaluation criteria will be applied in the second sitting of the exam. 

Being late for more than 15 min at the start of the class or coming late after the break for more 20% of total classes will lead to 0.5 points reduction in the final grade.

Attendance is mandatory and it must be greater than 90% to pass the subject.

Important considerations

1. Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will be zero in that evaluation section. Besides, in exams it will mean the immediate failing of the whole subject.

2. In the second-sitting exams, the maximum grade students will be able to obtain is "Excellent" (grade with honors distinction will not be possible).

3. Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted. 

4. Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same conditions as the rest of the students.

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

• E1 28/05/2020 14:00h
• E2 22/06/2020 12:00h