Molecular diagnostics and applied bioinformatics

The course deals with various technologies for analysis of human biological material at the molecular level (such as high-capacity analyses of DNA / RNA, proteins and metabolites). In addition, various (simple) bioinformatics tools, including databases, are introduced for the analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences. Various forms of biobanks and the handling and storage of human biological material (to preserve its integrity) will also be presented. Topics will be taken from medical genetics, oncology and microbiology, in both diagnostics and research. In addition, ethical and legal issues related to the production, analysis and use of large amounts of data from a single patient as well as biobanks will be elucidated.

Knowledge

The student:

• Has knowledge about molecular biology and molecular biology techniques as a foundation for specific topics in laboratory sciences and further studies.
• Has basic knowledge of high-capacity technology used in diagnostics and research.
• Has knowledge of bioinformatics and the use of bioinformatic tools in personalized medicine and other areas of laboratory medicine.
• Has knowledge about how changes in genes and/or gene expression may lead to disease.

Skills

The student:

• Can search and find information in relevant databases.
• Can perform simple analyses of biological data using bioinformatic tools.

Competence

The student:

• Has knowledge about and can relate to medical use of biotechnology, research in medical and health sciences and various biobanks, including acts and regulations that control this in Norway (the Biotechnology Act, the Biobank Act, and the Health Research Act).
• Is aware of relevant ethical issues that new technologies in medicine and health sciences bring, and can identify, reflect, and handle these in relation to work as biomedical laboratory scientists (professional ethics).
• Can exchange views and experiences and can update their knowledge through collecting information and having contact with the professional environment and field.
• Can document and share their professional knowledge.

Lectures, student-driven activities such as group work, presentations and more.