Molecular Biosciences Major Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) – (M.Sc.)

Contents

The course lasts for 4 semesters (2 years), starting at the beginning of October each year. The first year contains formal course work and the second year is devoted to laboratory research (lab rotations and Masters project work).

Semester 1 - Frontiers of Biosciences

This semester consists of two course modules which provide a solid background in advanced molecular biosciences, particularly concentrating on aspects which are represented by Heidelberg researchers. Each module lasts 9 weeks, of which 5-6 weeks are spent in course work and 3 weeks are allowed for exam preparation. The formal course work for each module consists of:

Lectures which provide theoretical information, with accompanying Tutorials. The lectures are attended by all students of the MSc course. At the end of the module students are examined on the content of the lecture course.

Practicals allow students to obtain diverse laboratory skills, and to observe in practice selected topics from the lectures. Each practical is accompanied by a
Seminar in which relevant articles from the primary literature are critically discussed.

The seminars also allow students to practice language and presentation skills. Practical and seminar groups are small (usually no more than 12 students) giving an excellent opportunity for interactions between the students and the teaching staff. Student participation in the practicals and seminars contributes to the final grade.

Students attend the lectures and accompanying tutorials which are offered to all students of the Masters course. During each module, students also take part on one 3-week practical course with an associated seminar in which relevant articles from the primary literature are discussed.

Practicals offered by the MCB
Major will cover the following topics:

* Methods in molecular and cellular biology
* Immunology
* Intracellular protein transport
* Biochemistry
* Structural biology

Semester 2 - Focus Bioscience

This semester is organised into two modules with a similar structure to those in the first semester, but all of the teaching is specific to the Major which has been chosen by the student.

Module 3

The lecture course will describe advanced methods and their application, illustrated by recent discoveries. Topics are likely to include:

* Genomics and transcriptomics
* Mass spectrometry and proteomics
* Crystallography
* Cryo-EM and reconstruction
* NMR, CD etc.
* Protein-protein interactions
* Live cell microscopy and FRET
* Quantitative biochemistry (metabolomics, metabolic modelling)
* Immunological methods in research and diagnosis
* Enzyme kinetics
* Yeast as a model system
* Biocomputing
* RNA

The practical classes with seminars are divided into one-week blocks. Each student chooses three blocks. Planned topics are as follows:

* Bioinformatics
* Cytofluorometry and cell sorting
* Advanced structural biology (Protein crystallography etc.)
* Mass spectrometry
* Microscopy and FRET
* RNA metabolism
* RNA structure and ribozymes
* Enzyme kinetics and folding
* Protein folding and stability

Module 4

In this module students are introduced to the research topics which are available within the MCB Major. Lecturers will first give a detailed background introducing the topic, then describe the open questions which are currently under investigation in Heidelberg and elsewhere.

In addition, each student does 6 weeks of practical work in the laboratory of one of the teachers in the MCB program and takes part in, and contributes to, the laboratory research and literature seminars of the research group.

Semester 3 - Biolab and Working in Bioscience

Each student undertakes two 6-9 week projects (Modules 5 & 6) in different laboratories of the Major and takes part in, and contributes to, the laboratory research and literature seminars of the research group. Alternatively one practical can be done in the context of another Major, or within a foreign exchange programme.

Semester 4 - Master Thesis

The Masters thesis work last six months and is done in the laboratory of one of the teachers in the MCB programme. You undertake a laboratory research project relevant to the Major, write a thesis, and defend it in an oral presentation.