This course introduces the theoretical basis of key experimental techniques that are used in molecular biology to study DNA and RNA structure and function. The course also focuses on the applications of these methods to promote sustainable living, and examples of ethical issues related to the use of selected technologies will be raised and discussed. The lectures will provide theoretical information of the methodologies, and accompanying tutorials based on real life-science questions will be given and discussed. The students will be trained to independently design and plan molecular biology experiments using case studies. Finally, seminars will allow students to practice language and presentation skills. The actual content of the course is updated every year to accommodate the most recent methods. Some examples of the covered techniques are:  

• Methods in molecular cloning 
• Genetic engineering and genome editing, including CRISPR/Cas technology 
• DNA sequence analysis, genomics, epigenomics and metagenomics 
• Gene expression analysis including transcriptomics and RT-qPCR 
• Genotyping techniques 
• Recombinant protein production