1.1.1            Time schedule Topmaster SystemsBiology/Biomolecular Integration (other elements of the program run in parallel mode).

Code of course

Name of course

Responsible

ECTS.

Period

 

Portal course part 1

Krab

5

06-09-2004 / 01-10-2004

 

Molecular microbiology

Oudega

6

04-10-2004 / 29-10-2004

 

Integrative Bioinformatics

Heringa

5

01-11-2004 / 24-12-2004

 

Portal course part 2

Krab

4

01-11-2004 / 24-12-2004

 

Ethics, history of science

General course

5

03-01-2005 / 28-01-2005

 

Interacting molecules

Lill

6

07-02-2005 / 04-03-2005

 

Proteins: structures, folding and dynamics

Vermeulen/Va der Vies

5

07-03-2005 / 01-04-2005

 

Intracellular networks

Westerhoff

5

04-04-2005 / 29-04-2005

 

Self-organization and emergence of function

Westerhoff

3

02-05-2005 / 13-05-2005

 

Scientific writing in English

General course

3

 

 

International research project

Westerhoff

65

June 2005, September 2005-June 2006

 

Comprehensive exam

Westerhoff

4

June 2006

 


 

name

Portal course (parts 1 and 2)

code

 

coördinator

Dr K. Krab and Prof. Dr. H.V. Westerhoff

lecturers

Prof. Dr H.V. Westerhoff, Dr K. Krab, Drs. F. Bruggeman, Dr. F.C. Boogerd, and guests

ECTS

9

Time period

September 2004, November-December 2004 (half-time)

aim

An intensive course for introduction of students with a Biology bachelor or Medical Biology bachelor (or equivalent) to concepts and methods of physics, chemistry and mathematics as necessary for the rest of the curriculum Systems Biology/Biomolecular Integration.

An intensive course for introduction of students with a Physics, Chemistry of Mathematics oriented bachelor to concepts and methods of Biology and Medical Biology as necessary for the rest of the curriculum Systems Biology/Biomolecular Integration.

 

Goals:

·        Obtain sufficient insight and knowledge across the range from medical biology to mathematics to be able to follow the rest of the topmaster Systems Biology/Biomolecular Integration

·        Appreciation and understanding of the importance and motives of the ‘other’ disciplines

·        Ability of the student to engage in thorough scientific discussions with students of the ‘other’ blood group

 

contents

Theor. Introduction to:

·          Cell Biology

·          Biophysics 

·          Biochemistry

·          Chemistry

·          Mathematics

·          Molecular genetics

·          Physics

·          Pathophysiology

 

Practical:

·          short course in experimentation (pipeting, centrifugation, spectrophotometer, mathematical modeling)

·          socialization weekend/midweek of the group

methodology

·          Lectures

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Web-courses

·          Computer practicals

·          Lab- work: Experiments

 

literature

·          Reader (10 euro)

·          Molecular Biology of the Cell (‘Alberts’)

teaching

Active participation

test

Written exam

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with the professors and associate professors.               

Required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology or equivalent (see www.systembiology.net/topmaster )


 

name

Molecular Microbiology

code

 

coördinator

Prof. dr. B. Oudega

lecturers

Prof. Dr B. Oudega, and the guest-lecturers dr. Luirink, dr. Otto, dr. Harms, Prof. dr. Lill, Prof. dr. Westerhoff, dr. Van Spanning

ECTS

6

Time period

October 2004

aim

Goals:

  • To teach the students, theory and practical approaches, and to generate insight into the complex molecular processes in the cell, especially in the bacterial cell. The emphasis is on structueres of the the cell enevelope, protein transport and regulation.

At the end, the students should be able to understand and know:

  • fundamental molecular processes that are important for growth and pathogenicity of micro-organisms, regaulation of physiological processes as a function of environmental conditions.
  • practical approches in the molecular microbiology area, immunology, bacterial DNA technology , etc

 

contents

Theory:

·        Lectures on: functional aspects of the bacterial cell envelope, structure and function of membrane components, chaperones and protein folding processes, stress-response, biogenesis of membrane proteins, protein secretion routes, biogenesis and function of fimbriae, iron uptake mechanisms, virulence factors, regulation of gene expresion and DNA structure

Practical:

·          for some students laboratory work with several different molecular genetic and molecular microbiology techniques and methods

·          for other students, when appropriate, literature stuy and essay-writing

methodology

·          Lectures

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Laboratory work: students work in small groups (2-3 persons)

·          Literature study, writing essay

·          Presentations

literature

Reader (ca 10 €)

teaching

Active participation (October 2004).

test

Written exam

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with the professors and associate professors.

required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology plus topmaster portal course, or equivalent

 

 


 

name

Sequence Analysis

code

 

coördinator

Prof. Dr J. Heringa

lecturers

Prof. Dr J. Heringa, Dr. J. Kleinjung, and other lecturers

ECTS

5

Time period

November/December 2004

aim

·              A theoretical and practical bioinformatics course about biological sequence analysis. The course provides an introduction to the algorithmic and biological principles of sequence analysis, as well as practical implications.

 

Goals:

  • At the end of the course, the student will be aware of the major issues, methodology and available algorithms in sequence analysis.
  • At the end of the course, the student will have hands-on experience in tackling biological problems in sequence analysis.

 

contents

Theory:

·        Dynamic programming, database searching, pairwise and multiple alignment, probabilistic methods, pattern matching, evolutionary models, and phylogeny.

Practical:

·          Assignment programming own alignment software based on dynamic programming

·          Assignment homology searching and pattern recognition using biological and disease examples 

·          Assignment multiple alignment of biological sequences

 

methodology

·          13 Lectures (2 two-hour lectures per week)

·          Assignment introductions

·          Computer practicals

·          Hands-on support

literature

·          E-course material: http://ibivu.cs.vu.nl

·          Books:  Arthur M. Lesk (2002) Introduction to Bioinformatics, Oxford University Press, pp. 289, ISBN (Pbk) 0 19 925196 7.

teaching

Active participation (November/December 2004).

test

Assignment results and oral or written exam (depending on number of course students)

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, or Medical Natural Sciences, with a strong interest in Bioinformatics

remarks

The course is taught in English.

required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, Medical Natural Sciences. Some experience in programming is required.

 


 

name

Biological Fluorescence – Interactions of Biomolecules

code

 

coördinator

Dr Y. Bollen

lecturers

Prof. Dr H. Lill, Prof. Dr T. Visser, Dr. Y. Bollen, and guests

ECTS

6

Time period

February 2005

aim

Goals:

To introduce students into the application of various fluorescent methods to tackle biochemical problems.

Students should be able to

·          plan and conduct experiments utilizing fluorescent techniques to tackle own questions

·          evaluate results on the basis of recent literature

Students should know

·          theoretical principles and application of different fluorescence methods

contents

Theory:

Theoretical fundaments and practical applications of (time-resolved) fluorescence will be covered.

Practical:

·          laboratory work with several different fluorescent methods, including a unique one (PEFFLS) which has been developed within the department of Structural Biology

·          Interpretation and evaluation of results will be carried out on site by course participants, assisted by lab personnel

methodology

·          Lectures

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Laboratory work: students work in small groups (2-3 persons) within the department’s labs

literature

Reader (ca 5 €)

teaching

Active participation (February 2005)

test

Written report

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with the professors and associate professors.

Required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology plus topmaster portal course, or equivalent


 

name

Proteins: structures, folding and dynamics

code

 

coördinator

Prof. Dr. S. van der Vies, Prof. Dr. N. Vermeulen

lecturers

Guest lecturers

ECTS

5

Time period

March 2005

aim

An intensive course to acquaint the students with the most modern and effective concepts and methods for the study of proteins in action

 

Goals:

·        To obtain knowledge and insights in the structure and the molecular mechanisms of action of proteins, in order to understand their basic and special biological functions. Special emphasis is will be given to the folding and the dynamics of proteins.

contents

Theory

·          The molecular properties of the basic structural elements of DNA, lipids and proteins, such as helices, sheets, strands, barrals etc will be discussed as well as the forces and interactions responsible for the structure, the functions and the flexibility of proteins. Special attention will be given to the complexity of the protein folding process. The basic concepts and typical applications of experimental techniques to solve macromolecular structures and to study their dynamical behaviour will be reviewed, as well as computational techniques that can be used to generate protein structures and to simulate their own dynamics and the dynamics of their ligands. A number of more specific proteins or complex protein systems will be discussed with the aim to understand, in an intergrative way, the complexity of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions and the way the protein (complex) functions, if possible while in action.

Practical:

·          In silico visualisation of selected proteins and protein-ligand interactions

·          In silico construction and engineering of proteins

·          In silico control analysis on the basis of earlier experimental results

methodology

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Web-courses

·          Computer practical classes

·          Lab-inspection work: Students follow and assist an experienced postdoc/Ph D student performing a key experiment. Data evaluation and interpretation on site.

literature

·          Introduction to Protein Structure, Carl Branden en John Tooze, 1999, Garland Publishing Inc.

·          E-course material

·          Recent articles from Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

teaching

Active participation (March 2005)

test

Written exam

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with (associate) professors.               

Required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology plus topmaster portal course, or equivalent

 

 


 

name

Intracellular networks

code

 

coördinator

prof. Dr H.V. Westerhoff

lecturers

Prof. Dr H.V. Westerhoff, Dr B.M. Bakker, Prof. Dr J. L. Snoep, and guests

ECTS

5

Time period

February 2005

aim

An intensive course for introduction to cell biological networks.

Goals:

·          The course gives an introduction into the behavior of intracellular networks, including metabolic pathways, signal transduction chains, gene expression pathways and their hierarchical organization.  Metabolic and Hierarchical Control Analysis, Biological Non Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Biological (Self-), Genetic Network Analysis, Elementary Mode Analysis, Flux (Balance Analysis) will be explained and practiced.  The levels of genomics (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and function) and their interrelationships will be clarified, both theoretically and experimentally.   

contents

Theory:

·          The course gives an introduction into the behavior of intracellular networks, including metabolic pathways, signal transduction chains, gene expression pathways and their hierarchical organization.

·          Metabolic and Hierarchical Control Analysis, Biological Non Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Biological (Self-), Genetic Network Analysis, Elementary Mode Analysis, Flux (Balance Analysis) will be explained and practiced.

·          The levels of genomics (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and function) and their interrelationships will be clarified, both theoretically and experimentally.   

Practical:

·          inspection experiments performing flux and metabolite measurements and subsequent regulation analysis

·          inspection experiments deigning network targeted inhibitors of parasites flux analysis on the basis of a set of computer data

·          control analysis on the basis of earlier experimental results

 

methodology

·          Lectures

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Web-courses (www.siliconcell.net )

·          Computer practicals

·          Lab-inspection work: Students follow and assist an experienced postdoc/Ph D student performing a key experiment. Data evaluation and interpretation on site.

literature

·          Reader (10 euro)

·          E-course material:     http://www.bio.vu.nl/hwconf/teaching/Mathbiochemie/; www.siliconcell.net  

·          Books:  Chapters from:Understanding the Control of Metabolism (Fell, D) Portland Press; Metabolic Engineering in the Postgenomic Era (Kohlodenko & Westerhoff, Editors), Horizon Bioscience; Thermodynamics and Control of Biological Free-energy transduction (Westerhoff and Van Dam), Elsevier

teaching

Actieve participation (January 2005)

test

Written exam

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with the professors and associate professors.               

Required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology plus topmaster portal course, or equivalent

 


 

name

Self-organization and emergence of function

code

Self-organisation, emergence, function and complexity

coördinator

prof. dr H.V. Westerhoff

lecturers

Prof. Dr H.V. Westerhoff, Dr Ir. B. Kooi, Dr F.C. Boogerd, and guests

ECTS

3

Time period

May 2005

aim

An intensive course for introduction to biological self-organization

Goals:

·        Appreciation and understanding of the phenomenon that nonlinearly interacting processes can lead to the generation of new properties.

  • Insight that in Biology it is not only self-organization that matters, but also molecular properties (the genome sequence), perpetration (inheritance of preexisitng organization in the mother cell, and selection for functionality matter.
  • Insight in examples, such as pattern formation in early development, metabolic oscillations, adaptation and robustness
  • Insight in the biological funcions that may arise by self-organization in combination with the above
  • Ability to construct and work with mathematical models of self-organisation

 

contents

Theory:

·          Stability analysis

·          Far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics

·          Biology of pattern formation in ealry development

·          Fourier and Metabolic Control Analysis of oscillatory systems

·          Biochemistry of glycolytic oscillations and their synchronization

·          Biology of adaptation, induction, robustness and selection

·          Dynamic energy budget theory

 

Practical:

·          inspection experiments with synchronizing yeast glycolytic oscillaitons

·          computer modelling of early development

·          use of mathematica and maple for stability analysis

 

methodology

·          Lectures

·          Tutorials/discussions of book material, lecture notes

·          Web-courses

·          Computer practicals

·          Lab- work: Experiments

·          Data evaluation and interpretation on site.

literature

·          Reader (10 euro)

teaching

Active participation (May 2005)

test

Written exam

target group

Students with Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology with a strong interest in the interface between these disciplines

remarks

The course is taught in the English language, and involves much direct contact with the professors and associate professors.               

Required knowledge

Bachelor Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Medical Biology plus topmaster portal course, or equivalent