Experimental molecular microbiology

• Master basic microbiological and molecular methods including sterile technique.
• Explain the concepts of “exponential growth” and “balanced growth”
• Describe the main regulatory principles in transcriptional initiation control.
• Describe the genetic elements: plasmids, insertion sequences (IS) and transposons (Tn).
• Explain the mechanisms of natural gene transfer (transformation, transduction and conjugation).
• Calculate growth rates and generation times based on growth curves obtained by experimental data.
• Apply and elucidate the most important concepts of bacterial genetics in the areas of mutation, selection, screening, recombination, complementation and mapping.
• Assess and present results and conclusions in a scientific article format and compare each other’s report via a peer-review process

Microbial methods (basal sterile technique, OD measurements, plating). Microbial physiology (growth kinetics, yield, induction of gene expression) bacterial genetics (transduction, conjugation, mutagenesis, isolation and analysis of mutants). DNA analysis and transformation. The results of the experimental work are presented as a report written in the style of a scientific paper.

27002/27008, Course 27026 should be followed together with 27027.

Mandatory laboratory exercises

The course replaces 27028 Exercises in molecular microbiology. Participation in laboratory exercises is mandatory. Before accessing the laboratory, you must pass a Multiple Choice test on safety

Minimum: 20, Maximum: 96.

Please be aware that this course has a minimum requirement for the number of participants needed, in order for it to be held. If these requirements are not met, then the course will not be held. Furthermore, there is a limited number of seats available. If there are too many applicants, a pool will be created for the remainder of the qualified applicants, and they will be selected at random. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether you have been allocated a spot.