? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : BIO-4-MBrna/eng

The RNA World:
Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the major role played by RNA molecules and RNA metabolism in biological systems. The course will cover many aspects of the function, transport and evolution of RNA and will highlight the dual roles of RNAs as functional components of cells and major carriers and mediators of genetic information.

Topics:
The RNA world hypothesis for the origins of life. The structure of RNA, RNA-mediated catalysis and splicing. The synthesis, modification, transport and degradation of mRNAs. The roles of these activities in the regulation of gene expression. mRNA localization and its importance for cell and organism polarity. The use of RNAi to analyse gene expression and function. Small RNAs as therapeutic agents.

Mammalian Transgenesis & Genome Engineering:
This Elective Course will provide a greater in-depth knowledge of the technologies presented in the Core Course for introducing genetically engineered modifications into the germ line of mammals. In particular there will be emphasis on discussing recent innovations in the following areas: chromosome engineering; transfer of human and artificial chromosomes into mice; BAC recombineering and transgenesis; conditional gene expression strategies; optimisation and genetic modification of somatic cells for transgenesis by nuclear transfer; and applications of these to functional genomics analysis, biomedical research and biotechnology.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer.

? Costs : Notepads

Home subject area

Molecular Biology, (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 5 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 5 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 08/01/2008 09:00 10:50 Seminar Room, Roger Land Building

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Tuesday 09:00 10:50 KB Lecture Thursday 09:00 10:50 KB

? Additional Class Information : Tuesday - Mammalian Transgensis & Genome Engineering
Thursday - The RNA World

Increased understanding of Biological processes. Detailed learning outcomes will be provided later.

Essay (5 points)/Essay (5 points) - Semester 2, Week 6 (February)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Miss Donna Wright
Tel : (0131 6)51 7051
Email : Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr Andrew Coulson
Tel : (0131 6)50 5363
Email : Andrew.Coulson@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/