Molecular Biology studies the structure, organization and function of macromolecules found in living beings, especially the structure of genetic material, such as genes and the functioning of genomes. It is one of the most developed areas of health sciences in recent years and has more and more applications in biomedicine, such as disease diagnosis, prognosis, gene therapy, production of drugs and vaccines. Therefore, new professionals of the pharmaceutical area have an important role in the design and production of future drugs based on molecular knowledge of diseases. Moreover, in the field of pharmaceutical care it is also essential to know the fundamental aspects of molecular biology and general biochemistry in order to properly dispense therapeutic products.

The molecular biology course is a continuation of the biochemistry course taught in the first year of the degree in Pharmacy. The first part of the subject analyzes the structure, organization and metabolism of genetic material (DNA and RNA). It also delves into the mechanism of transmission of genetic information and thus learns how proteins are produced from genes. Finally, the fundamentals and mechanisms of regulation of gene expression in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes are also analyzed.

In the second part of the course, DNA variants, mutations and repair mechanisms are analyzed. Diseases developed by genetic changes are learned in depth, as well as molecular techniques to diagnose diseases and manipulate genetic material. Finally, from a general perspective, recombinant DNA technology and gene therapy are addressed.

All these theoretical contents are complemented with experimental practices. In this way, the student is trained in basic molecular biology techniques and it is guaranteed that through the application of the scientific method, hypotheses are raised and the ability to solve experimental problems is developed.

- To know about the structure, metabolism and regulation of macromolecules involved in the transmission of genetic information.



- Understanding of the procedures used in recombinant DNA technology.



- Knowledge of the technology for obtaining recombinant proteins of health interest.



- To know the genetic changes that cause heritable diseases and to understand the fundamentals of their analysis.



- To know the basics of gene therapy.



- To be able to perform nucleic acid analysis.



- To be able to perform gene cloning, analysis and identification techniques.



TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES



- To be able to search, work in groups and present information on topics related to the subject.



- To write correctly, without spelling mistakes and using the appropriate terminology.

THEORETICAL PROGRAM:



TOPIC 0: Presentation and planning of the subject. Bibliography.



TRANSMISSION OF GENETIC INFORMATION.



TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. Levels of structure of nucleic acids. Primary structure. Chargaff's laws.



SECONDARY AND TERTIARY STRUCTURE OF DNA. DNA double helix. DNA supercoiling.

Nucleosomes. Chromosomes. Genomes.



TOPIC 3: AMINO ACID AND NUCLEOTIDE METABOLISM.



TOPIC 4. DNA REPLICATION. Characteristics. Enzymes and proteins. Stages. Replication in eukaryotic cells. Mutation and DNA repair mechanisms. Recombination.



TOPIC 5. STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND METABOLISM OF ARN. Types of RNA. Transcription: definition, characteristics, enzymes, stages. RNA maturation.



TOPIC 6. PROTEIN SYNTHESIS. Genetic code. Characteristics. Amino acid synthesis. Activation.

Stages of translation. Modifications after translation. Internal cellular degradation of proteins.



TOPIC 7: REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION. General concepts. Regulation in bacteria: the model operon. Regulation in eukaryotes.



TECHNOLOGY BASED ON THE TRANSMISSION OF GENETIC INFORMATION.



TOPIC 8. HYBRIDIZATION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS. Hybridization probes. Hybridization methods. Southern blotting and related related techniques.



TOPIC 9. DNA CLONING. Fundamentals. In vitro DNA amplification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)



TOPIC 10. CELL CLONING OF DNA MOLECULES. Restriction endonucleases. Preparation of DNA for cloning. Cloning and expression vectors. Types of vectors. Preparation of recombinant DNA. Recombinant DNA cell Host internment. Cell reproduction and cell selection. Phenotypic methods of selection: marker genes. Hybridization methods, immunochemical methods.



TOPIC 11. DNA SEQUENCING. Chemical and enzymatic methods.



APPLICATIONS



TOPIC 12. GENE ANALYSIS FOR DIAGNOSIS. Genetic diseases. Physiological and pathological polymorphisms. Detection of polymorphisms: reduction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and tandem repeat sequence polymorphism (VNTR). Uninucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Multifactorial diseases. DNA microchips.



13.- GENE THERAPY. Fundamentals, diseases that can be treated by gene therapy.



TOPIC 14. APPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED MICROORGANISMS. Production of recombinant proteins. Gene libraries. Corrected mutagenesis.



TOPIC 15. GENE TRANSFER TO ANIMAL CELLS. Transgenic animals. Recombinant proteins.

production in animal cells and transgenic animals.



TOPIC 16. TRANSGENIC PLANTS. Technology for obtaining “biofactory plants”. Health concerns.

recombinant protein expression in plants: vaccines, antibodies, biopharmaceuticals.



PRACTICAL PROGRAM



Laboratory practices:



1.- Extraction, purification and quantification of DNA from tissues.



2.- Analysis of STR polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).



Computer practicals:



1.- RFLP assay for the analysis and diagnosis of Beta S globin polymorphism.



2. Bioinformatic analysis of the results of a DNA microarray of gene expression.

TEACHING 45 hours

Theories and practical exercises (analysis, test-type questionnaires, etc.) will be carried out.



LABORATORY PRACTICES: 2 sessions of 4 hours

1.- DNA extraction, purification and quantification.

2.- Use of STR polymorphisms for the identification of individuals.



COMPUTER PRACTICES: 2 sessions of 3.5 hours

1. RFLP assay for the analysis and diagnosis of Beta S globin polymorphism.

2. Bioinformatics analysis of a DNA microchip.



ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM: 90 hours

- Reading of the topics covered

- Consulting texts, elaborating schemes and learning.

- Solving headers and exercises in lectures.

- Answering the questionnaires that will be made available in eGELA.

- Using information and communication technologies, watching videos and animations available in eGELA.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 15
  • Individual works (%): 15
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 10

- In order to pass the course, it is essential to obtain a minimum grade in the written tests, obtaining 50% of the available points in both the practical and theoretical exams. In addition, students who opt for continuous assessment must obtain at least 50% of the grade in individual and group work.

- Students who decide to take the continuous evaluation must participate in lab and computer practical sessions, even if they have taken them in previous years. On the contrary, those who have refused the continuous evaluation, provided they have done the internship, do not have to do it again. In all cases, students who have enrolled for the first time in the subject are obliged to do practices.

- Students who wish to obtain from the final exam the total grade of the course (100%) must communicate it in writing to the professor during the first 9 weeks of the term. These students will have to answer more questions in the last multiple-choice test.

- In order to waive an exam, it will be enough not to take the test. In this case, the grade will be non-attendance for those who have taken the continuous evaluation, and only for those who have opted for the final evaluation.

- In the case that any of the instructions related to the subject does not appear in this guide, the procedures established in the regulations of the course in force will be taken into account.

- Computer connected to the Internet (available in the Campus computer rooms).
- Textbooks (available at the Campus library).
- Lab apron.
- Calculator
- Laboratory tablet with millimetric boxes (or equivalent computer support).

Basic bibliography

1.- "Texto ilustrado de biología molecular e ingeniería genética", A. Herráez. Elsevier, 2012.

2.- "Lehninger. Biokimika Oinarriak", D. L. Nelson y M. M. Cox, 2ª ed. UPV/EHU 2008.

3.- "Bioquímica", J.M. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko y L. Stryer, 6. ed. Reverté, 2008.

4.- "Fundamentos de Bioquímica: la vida a nivel molecular" D. Voet, J.G. Voet eta C. Pratt, 2ª ed, Médica Panamericana, 2007.

5.- "Gene cloning and DNA análisis: an introduction", T. A. Brown, 5ª ed. Blackwell, 2006 .

In-depth bibliography

1.- "Molecular Biology: Understanding the Genetic Revolution", D.P. Clark. Elsevier, 2005.
2.- "Ingeniería genética y transferencia génica", M. Izquierdo. Pirámide, 2001.
3.- "Analysis of Genes and Genomes", R.J. Reece. Wiley, 2004.
4.- "Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and applications of recombinant DNA", B.R. Glick y J.J. Pasternak, 3ª ed. ASM Press, 2003.
5.- "Plantas biofactoría. Informe de vigilancia tecnológica", O. Ruiz Galán y cols. Genoma España, 2005.
6.- "Plant Biotechnology: the genetic manipulation of plants", A. Slater, N.W. Scott y M.R. Fowler. 2ª ed., Oxford University Press, 2008.
7.- "Terapia génica", Antonio Talavera. Ephemera, 2004.

Journals

-Investigación y Ciencia.
-Molecular Biology Reports. Springer. Alemania.
-Biotecnology advances. Elsevier. Holanda.

Web addresses

http://www.ehu.es/biomoleculas
http://sebbm.bq.ub.es
http://www.biorom.uma.es/
http://www.gen-es.org
http://croptechnology.unl.edu/download.cgi
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
www.webofknowledge.com/ (EHUtik)