DNA - From Structure to Therapy
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Course Details
Cost
FREE
Upcoming Schedule
- On demand
Course Provider
Iversity online courses
Iversity's vision is to share world-class knowledge. Based out of Berlin,
iversity works directly with professors instead of through universities to
provide its high-quality courses in multiple different languages. Contemporary
Architecture taught by internationally known professor Dr. Ivan Shumkov and
Dark Matter in Galaxies: The Last Mystery led by world-famous astrophysicist
Paolo Salucci are only two examples of the kind of top-tier courses you can
take at Iversity. Google, Shell Compa...
Iversity's vision is to share world-class knowledge. Based out of Berlin,
iversity works directly with professors instead of through universities to
provide its high-quality courses in multiple different languages. Contemporary
Architecture taught by internationally known professor Dr. Ivan Shumkov and
Dark Matter in Galaxies: The Last Mystery led by world-famous astrophysicist
Paolo Salucci are only two examples of the kind of top-tier courses you can
take at Iversity. Google, Shell Company and Deutsche Bank - three of the most
innovative and successful companies in the world - declared iversity a
Lighthouse Project in Higher Education, a prestigious and highly sought after
international honor. PC Magazine named Iversity as one of the best websites of
2013. Iversity's broad range of courses led by the best professors in the
world gives you access to previously unattainable knowledge.
Provider Subject Specialization
Humanities
Sciences & Technology
Course Description
This course explains one of the key molecules in life: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(DNA). DNA stores the genetic information in all living cells. The sequence of
its building blocks defines both individual identity and species diversity.
Changes in DNA can lead to cancer and other diseases. DNA-based technology is
now used to detect and treat diseases. In this course, we will take you on a
journey from the DNA molecule to the development of novel therapies. We will
first look at some historical aspects and key experiments such as how DNA was
identified and proven to be the keeper of genetic information. We will then
describe how DNA becomes duplicated (when cells divide) and how the genetic
information stored on DNA is organized into genes. Next, we will explain how
genes become transcribed into a messenger molecule (mRNA) and eventually
translated into proteins that carry out the actual cellular functions. With
this basic knowledge, we wi...
This course explains one of the key molecules in life: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(DNA). DNA stores the genetic information in all living cells. The sequence of
its building blocks defines both individual identity and species diversity.
Changes in DNA can lead to cancer and other diseases. DNA-based technology is
now used to detect and treat diseases. In this course, we will take you on a
journey from the DNA molecule to the development of novel therapies. We will
first look at some historical aspects and key experiments such as how DNA was
identified and proven to be the keeper of genetic information. We will then
describe how DNA becomes duplicated (when cells divide) and how the genetic
information stored on DNA is organized into genes. Next, we will explain how
genes become transcribed into a messenger molecule (mRNA) and eventually
translated into proteins that carry out the actual cellular functions. With
this basic knowledge, we will then look at simple DNA-based techniques and how
they are employed not just in basic research but also in everyday life: for
the analysis of food, in crime scene investigations and forensics, for the
diagnosis of genetic diseases, and for therapy development in modern molecular
medicine. When students have completed the course, they will know a lot about
structure, function, and uses of DNA, and they will understand the DNA-related
words that are often used in the news (e.g. "gene", "mutation", "DNA
fingerprint"). The course will be organized into 14 units of approx. 15 min
each. The units will follow a common scheme with a short introductory sequence
that discusses the importance of the topic covered. The main part of the
lecture will have molecular models, power point animations, live drawings, and
short lecture video sequences. At the end of each unit, we will provide a
question catalogue and links to supporting material. Immediate self testing
will be possible through multiple choice questions and interactive tasks. As
homework, students will work on "open questions" in student-centered
discussion groups. Open questions are based on but not restricted to the
material covered in the course, and students will be encouraged to do their
own reading to answer them. The fourteen units comprise the following topics:
01\. How DNA is present in everyday life (DNA History I) 02\. DNA History II
03\. The structure and properties of DNA - DNA fingerprint 04\. Replication -
the copying of DNA 05\. From DNA to Protein I - Transcription of Genes 06\.
From DNA to Protein II - RNA processing 07\. From DNA to Protein III -
translating the genetic code 08\. Methods I - making Genes visible 09\.
Methods II - amplifying Genes 10\. Introduction to Genetic Diseases - Cancer
11\. Consequences of Mutations 12\. How to repair mutations? 13\. Muscular
Dystrophies - when muscles die 14\. Stem Cell Therapies - replacing defective
cells Learning objectives Participants will be able to answer the following
questions after completing the course: 1\. Why and how has DNA become one of
the most powerful tools in research? 2\. What exactly does gene therapy mean?
3\. Why is it so hard to find a cure for cancer? 4\. For which diseases may
DNA-based technology help developing a therapy? 5\. What are potentials and
risks in gene-based medicine?