Metabolism and gene engineering

To provide knowledge of biology, especially of biochemistry and molecular biology, by means of procedures of study, experience and practice, and encouraging critical thinking, in order that the futures Master in Chemical Engineering and Bioprocess could develop their professional skills related to the biotechnological area.

Theoretical contents
UNIT 1. General introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Estructure and function of biomolecules. Transduction and energy storage.Metabolism overview.
UNIT 2. Introduction to the metabolism. Concept of metabolism. Types of routes and metabolic reactions. Bioenergetics.
UNIT 3. Enzymes. Characteristics of the enzymatic reaction. Kinetic Mm. Enzyme inhibition. Concept of alosterism. Regulation of the enzymatic activity.
UNIT 4. Central metabolic pathways and energetic metabolism. Example: bioethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevesiae and Zymomonas mobilis. Brief summary of other metabolic pathways and their integration in the central pathways.
UNIT 5. Metabolism integration. Integration of metabolic pathways. Production of secondary products. Regulation of metabolism. UNIT 6. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. DNA structure. Genes and Genomes. DNA expression: transcription and translation. Genetic Code and mutations.
UNIT 7. Regulation of Gene Expression. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: the lac operon. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes.
UNIT 8. Genetic engineering. Manipulation and analysis of DNA molecules. DNA sequencing. PCR. Cloning. Vector types. Transforming prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
UNIT 9. Applications of Bioengineering. Genetically modified organisms. Production of recombinant proteins. Examples of Metabolic engineering.

Practical Contents
Students will have available (both in the laboratory and in the practice manual) all the information about the potential risks of the practices (handling and disposal of biological material, flammable and / or toxic products, materials at high temperatures) and necessary PPE (lab coat, safety goggles, chemical and thermal protection gloves).
PRACTICES 1-2: Determination of an enzymatic activity. Effect of diverse effectors and inhibitors. Calculation of kinetic parameters. PRACTICES 3-4: Cloning of a cDNA. Bacterial transformation and plasmid isolation from bacterial cultures. Analysis of amplified cDNA by agarose gel electrophoresis of the purified plasmid and digested with restriction enzymes.

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
-CLARK, D.P. and PAZDERNIK, N.J., 2016. Biotechnology. [en liña] 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press. Dispoñible en: https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezbusc.usc.gal/book/9780123850157/biotech…
-McKEE, T. and McKEE, J. R., 2014. Bioquímica. Las bases moleculares de la vida. [en liña] 5 ed. McGRAW-HILL Interamericana Editores. https://accessmedicina-mhmedical-com.ezbusc.usc.gal/book.aspx?bookid=19…

COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
-FEDUCHI CANOSA, E. e outros. Bioquímica. Conceptos esenciales. 2ª edición. Madrid: Editorial Panamericana, 2015. ISBN: 978-84-9835-875-9
-GLICK, B. R., J.J PASTERNAK and C.L. PATTEN, C. L. Molecular biotechnology: principles and applications of recombinant DNA. 4ª edición. Washington D.C; ASM Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-55581-498-4
-HERRÁEZ SÁNCHEZ, Á. Texto ilustrado e interactivo de biología molecular e ingeniería genética: conceptos, técnicas y aplicaciones en ciencias de la salud. 2ª edición. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2012. ISBN: 978-84-8086-647-7
-NELSON, D. L. and M.M. COX. Lehninger Principios de Bioquímica. 6ª edición. Barcelona: Editorial Omega, 2014. ISBN: 978-84-282-1603-6
-TYMOCZKO, J. L., J.M. BERG and L. STRYER. Bioquímica: Curso básico. 2ª edición. Barcelona: Editorial Reverté, 2014. ISBN:788429176032
-OKAFOR, N. Modern industrial microbiology and biotechnology. Enfield (NH): Science Publishers, 2007. ISBN: 1578084342, 9781578084340

Knowledges:

(CN03) Have knowledge of biological fundamentals relevant to bioprocesses in the context of Chemical Engineering.

Competences:
(CP01) Apply knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and other natural sciences, obtained through study, experience, and practice, with critical reasoning to establish economically viable solutions to technical problems.

Skills:
(HD04) Seek, process, analyze, and synthesize, critically, information from diverse sources for the establishment of the corresponding conclusions.

The lectures and all the interactive activities will be face-to-face.
-Lectures: Lesson taught by the teacher who may have different formats (theory, problems and / or general examples, general guidelines of matter ...). The teacher may have the support of audiovisual and computer but in general, students do not need to handle them in class. Knowledge: CN03.
-Interactive Classes (Schools): The aim of the seminars is to support the theory and practical classes by means of problem resolution and autonomous exercises resolution. Students will solve questions related to this subject and will delve into a practical topic concerning bioprocesses. Skills: CN03 and CP01.
-Laboratory practical classes: Students will learn some of the most common techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories. Skills: CN03 and CP01.
-Tutoring: clarification of doubts about the theory or practice.
-Within the activities corresponding to this Module, a visit will be made to a bioethanol production plant, which will allow them to understand the industrial application of the theoretical knowledge explained about said process.

1.1) Continuous assessment (35% of the final grade), which in turn consists of:
i.Seminars: problems/exercises resolution and participation in the proposed activities (10%). CN03, HD04.
ii.Laboratory Practice: laboratory work and final report (20%). CP01, HD04.
iii.Tutorials/Teacher report (5%): CN03.
1.2) Final Test (65% of the final grade): it is necessary to pass this exam to pass the subject (obtaining at least 5 points out of a total of 10 points). Otherwise, the final grade will be exclusively that of the exam (65% of the total grade). It will be done in person. CN03.
Attendance to laboratory practical classes is mandatory. Absences must be properly justified.
The control of attendance to face-to-face activities will be by calling.
Students who fail the course in the first opportunity may retake the final exam during the second opportunity, maintaining the scores obtained for the continuous evaluation.The repeaters are required to take the whole course again.
In cases of fraudulent carrying out of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Student Assessment and Academic Performance Assessment Regulations" of the USC will apply.

Theoretical classes: 15 hours
Seminars: 8 hours
Laboratory sessions: 18 hours
Group tutorships: 1 hour
Exam and revision: 2 hours

Individual work: 68,5

The student must revise and extend the theoretical concepts introduced in the different subjects using the recommended text books. Students who encounter significant difficulties when working the proposed activities must come to the tutorials of the teacher, in order that it can analyze the problem and help resolve these difficulties.

Classes are taught in Spanish.Students will find additional material related to the classes in the "Campus Virtual".
In the subjects for this Bioprocessing module the bioethanol production process will be studied in a coordinated manner addressing this topic from a different perspective.
For the admission and permanence of the registered student in the laboratory for practical classes, is mandatory that they know the information and comply with the rules included in the General Safety Standards for experimental spaces of the “Escola Técnica Superior de Enxeñaría”, available in the security section of its website:
1. https://www.usc.gal/gl/centro/escola-tecnica-superior-enxenaria

2. Log into the intranet with your personal credentials

3. Go to Comisións > Seguridade e Saúde > Formación

4. Click into "Protocolo de formación básica en materia de seguridade para espazos experimentais"