Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course the student:

  • understands the concepts of Systems biology and how they can be applied to address various research questions
  • knows how omics technologies are applied to generate data
  • can apply computational tools to treat high-throughput data
  • can differentiate between a reductionistic and a holistic view of a cell
  • can quantitatively describe biological phenomena
  • analyze the behavior of small biological networks using modeling and simulation
  • can model basic microbial metabolism

Credits: 5

Schedule: 28.02.2023 - 08.06.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Paula Jouhten, Tero Eerikäinen, Alexander Frey, Laura Niemelä

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course aims at the analysis and understanding of biological phenomena using omics tools, mathematical models and simulations. In the course students learn to view the cell as a complex system of interacting components (DNA-protein, protein-protein or metabolite-enzyme). As the individual components often are involved in many different reactions, complex networks are evolving which govern the cellular activities. These networks can be deduced from a global analysis of cells using omics tools (transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) and other experimental approaches. Methods and strategies for acquisition and analysis of high throughput data will be discussed. Computer exercises will be used to combine theory with the practice. Modeling of metabolic fluxes, their control and thermodynamic balances are practiced. Programs helping in the interpretation of high throughput data will be used. The concepts of systems biology are approached from an experimental point of view.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Fail, 1 – 5 grading; is based on exam (50%), and computer exercises and assignments (50%)

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures and Seminars 18 - 24 h

    Exercises and assignments   56 - 62 h

    Independent studying  51h

    Exam 4 h

     

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course is jointly organized by professor Alexander Frey, professor Paula Jouhten and university lecturer Tero Eerkikäinen.

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring IV - V
    2023-2024 Spring IV - V

    A course implementation may be cancelled if the number of students enrolled to the course implementation does not meet the required minimum of five students. In the case of cancelled course implementations, the students enrolled to them must be provided with an alternative way of completing the course or be advised to take some other applicable course.