This course is offered by the Centre for Medical Genetics and the Department of Molecular Genetics of the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Coordinator: Guy Van Camp
Lecturers: Guy Van Camp, Wim Van Hul, Marc Cruts, Frank Kooy
ECTS: 6

Goal and content
This course will treat advanced aspects and techniques for studying the human genome.
The following subjects are treated:

• Anatomy of the genome
• Amplification of DNA via PCR and cell based cloning
• Principles and applications of nucleic acid amplification
• Genetic techniques for DNA sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR and mutagenesis
• Human Genome project and related genome projects
• Techniques aiming at the study of gene structure, expression, function, using cell extracts and cell cultures
• Gene expression in human cells
• Techniques aiming at identification of genes for Mendelian and multifactorial diseases
• Functional genomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics

Prerequisite knowledge: Relevant BA with good knowledge of molecular biology. Students have to have a good understanding of the structure of biomolecules, the flow of genetic information (DNA replication, transcription, translation), and basic knowledge of genetic techniques such as PCR, DNA sequencing and cloning.
Teaching method: general lectures by instructors; personal assay, feed-back sessions; bio-informatic exercises.
Place/time/frequency: weekly classes over a twelve-week period.
Assessment: oral examination after written preparation, presentation of the personal assay
Literature: Textbook: Strachan T. & Read A.P.: Human Molecular Genetics, fourth edition. Garland Science, 2011.