Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Protein and Genetic Engineering
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish,
Teaching staff
Send an email to setup a meeting to::
Alessandro Ronzoni: aronzoni@uic.es
Juanma Fernández: jmfernandezc@uic.es
Ainoa Tejedera: atejedera@uic.es
Introduction
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 focuses on DNA detection and editing laboratory techniques, and how biomaterials are offering new strategies with Bioengineering purposes.
Pre-course requirements
The student should have successfully completed the subject of Cellular and Molecular Biology I and II
Objectives
- 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
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Describe aspects related to bioengineering based on subject-specific books together with scientific publications at the forefront of knowledge.
- CN06 - Define the fundamental principles of the technologies used in the design and manufacture of micro- and nanosensors in biotechnology areas.
- CP01 - Interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) and issue judgements that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CP04 - Produce fixed and removable structures in medical device applications.
- CP08 - Apply biotechnological methodologies and tools for research, development and production of products and services.
- HB01 - Convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- HB04 - Assess the social and environmental impact of technical solutions through the analysis and application of quality principles and methods.
- HB05 - Integrate a third language, usually English, in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment, with an adequate oral and written level and applying the terminology of bioengineering
- HB07 - Relate well-being with globalisation and sustainability, achieving skills for the use of technique, technology, economy and sustainability in a balanced and compatible way.
- HB12 - Evaluate manufacturing systems and processes, metrology and quality control.
- HB14 - Identify engineering concepts that can be applied in the field of biology and health.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Distinguish the conceptual and methodological foundations of the various platforms that make up bioengineering: biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmacology, immunology, microbiology, modeling, proteomics and genomics, drug delivery, project management...
• Apply the fundamentals of bioengineering in fields such as tissue engineering, orthotics, dental prosthetics, start-up creation, sustainability, and the design, manufacturing, and characterization of new medical devices.
• Define the characteristics of implants, dental prosthetics, radiological and surgical splints, relating them to osseointegration, prosthetic rehabilitation, and medical prescription.
• Define the materials and processes used in the manufacturing of implants, dental prosthetics, radiological and surgical splints.
Syllabus
1. Principles of molecular genetics
Molecular Biology Dogma: replication, transcription, translation
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene structure
2. Techniques in Genetic Engineering
Nucleic acids isolation and purification
DNA digestion and ligation
Restriction maps
Methods for DNA-binding
Modifying enzymes of nucleic acids
Main polymerases in Genetic Engineering
PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR
DNA labeling strategies
Nucleic acid and genic product detection methods
3. Gene cloning and types of vector
Gene cloning and types of cloning vectors
Cloning and expression vectors
Transformation
PCR cloning and subcloning
4. Genome editing and applications
Heterologous expression of proteins
Directed mutagenesis
Epigenètica
Genome editing systems: ZFN, TALENS, Crispr-Cas9
5. Genetic engineered-based biomaterials and tissue engineering
Principles of gene therapy
Biomaterials for gene therapy and tissue engineering
Genetically engineered biomaterials
Fusion proteins
LABORATORY SESSIONS
Laboratory work handling bacterial plasmids, restriction enzymes, and electrophoresis to execute previously defined plasmid DNA restriction strategy
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course will be divided mainly into master classes, problems and group project sessions, and laboratory sessions.
Classes will be taught in English. The didactic material will be presented mainly in English, although in some occasions, graphics, tables or schemes could be in Spanish due to the sources from which they could be obtained.
Eventually, the teacher could use the Moodle platform that could include various resources, such as forms, exercises, multimedia material ... that the student must complete to complete the subject.
The list of ECTS credits and the workload in learning hours depending on the different methodologies that will be used. Each ECTS theoretical credit has 10 hours in which the teacher has a presence in the classroom. The rest of the hours up to 25 correspond to the load of directed and autonomous learning of the student. This last teaching load can be done through autonomous activities, group work that will be presented and defended in class or individual study necessary to achieve the learning objectives of the different subjects.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1st Call exam:
- Problems (10%)
- Debates (5%)
- Report and laboratory sessions attendance (25%)
- Final exam (60%)
A minimal mark of 5.0 should be obtained in the final exam in order to be taken for the calculation of the course average. The same evaluation criteria will be applied in the second sitting of the exam, without the possibility of obtaining a distinction with honors.
Attendance is mandatory for all workgroup projects, problems, and laboratory sessions and must be higher than 90% to pass the course.
Assignments will not be accepted after the deadline and will only be accepted by Moodle and not by email, with the exception of the in-class problems/projects that only will be allowed during the session.
Important considerations
- 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 failure of the whole subject.
- In the second-sitting exams, the maximum grade students will be able to obtain is "Excellent" (grade with honors distinction will not be possible).
- Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted.
- Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same conditions as the rest of the students
Bibliography and resources
Genes, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, ISBN 019879276X, 9780198792765
The molecular biology of the cell, Bruce Alberts, Ww Norton & Co, ISBN 9780815344643
Gene cloning and DNA manipulation, T.A. Brown, John Wiley & Sons Inc,, ISBN 9781119072560
Principles of gene manipulation and genomics, S.B. Primrose and R.M. Twyman, Wiley-Blackwell publishing, ISBN 9781405135443
Evaluation period
- E1 27/05/2026 A10 14:00h