BMS305 Genetic Engineering & Bioinformatics (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Biomedical Science (BIMSC)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
An advanced level subject with an intensive practical schedule that familiarises students with techniques used in gene manipulation or genetic engineering and related innovative applications in modern medical biotechnology. This subject will also provide a sound introduction to bioinformatics through lectures and practical experience.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 1 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Wagga Wagga |
| Distance * | Wagga Wagga |
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BMS305
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Assumed Knowledge:
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
* be able to outline the range of genes implicated in common medical disorders and the variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and preventative methods developed to combat disease;
* describe the range of techniques in genetic manipulation, the cloning vectors available and the containment procedures required;
* identify strategies for gene isolation, construction of libraries, DNA and peptide synthesis and DNA sequencing;
* appreciate the complexities associated with engineering the expression of recombinant genes of medical or therapeutic importance, eg, human insulin, epidermal growth factor, human somatomammotrophin, human dystrophin genes;
* describe the diagnostic, forensic, and medical applications of recombinant DNA technology.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
The syllabus will cover the following topics: * review of basic molecular biology: theory, cloning vectors, mechanism of propagation; * tools of genetic manipulation: restriction endonucleases, methylases, nucleases, polymerases, ribonucleases, exonucleases, transcriptases, ligases, kinases. Uses of primers, adaptors, linkers; * cloning: cleavage of vector and insert, site compatibility, dephosphorylation of ends, ligation protocols and diagnostic techniques; * preparation of transformed cells: transformation and transfection techniques, routine screening procedures; * gene probing: hybridisation methods. Applications in biotechnology; * strategies for gene isolation: cloning DNA libraries and genomic DNA libraries, screening for genes of interest by hybridisation and immuno-detection methods. Secondary verification using slot-blots, zoo-blots, Northern and Southern hybridisation. Final confirmation techniques: DNA sequencing and translation, homology searches, in vitro translation, hybrid arrest and release translation, immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis; * DNA fingerprinting: DNA profiling in forensic science. Ethics of human gene screening * Expression engineering: promoters, enhancers, homeo-boxes, fundamental regulatory elements and empiricism in their juxtaposition. Secretion of engineered gene products; major factors affecting viability - refractile bodies, post-translational modification. Gearing up of production: The Eco-Sec(tm) System. Production, purification and analysis. Perspectives: development of expression vectors for mammalian cells; immunogenicity of engineered proteins - risk assessment in therapy; * DNA (Phosphite triester) and Peptide Synthesis, protein engineering, oligonucleotides, peptide pharmaceuticals and automated synthesis. In vitro mutagenesis and elucidation of gene function *Genetic therapy: human germ-line and somatic gene therapy; transgenic livestock for industry; transgenic animals as pharmaceutical factories * DNA and RNA Sequencing: Maxam and Gilbert, Sanger dideoxy, M13 and plasmid/ supercoil-seqencing strategies, troubleshooting, direct genomic sequencing with polymerase chain reaction. Perspectives: The Genome Sequencing Project; automated sequenators; * Scaling up mammalian and bacterial expression cultures: fermentation systems: batch, continuous and fed batch systems, turbidostat and chemostat cultures, downstream processing, inclusion bodies, secreted peptides, animal cell culture technology; * applications in diagnostics, forensics medicine and agriculture: peptide vaccines, peptide pharmaceuticals, vaccinia viruses, antibiotics, recombinant vaccines, food and beverage improvement.
Residential School
This subject contains a compulsory 4 day residential school.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.