Perspectives of modern biology and biotechnology

biology
biotechnology

obligatory courses

Knowledge about microbiology, biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology and physiology of plants and animals.

Classroom

Biotechnology is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline widely used in industry, agriculture and medicine. The biotechnology consist of any manipulation of living organisms: microbes, plants and animals, as biological systems, leading to the achievement of certain benefits. The lecture presents the main achievements and prospects of research in modern biotechnology.

A series of lectures on various areas of modern biotechnology and biology:

1. Introductory lecture - the story of the most important discoveries in modern biotechnology, research direction mapped out by biotech companies; the first artificially synthesized genome - the techniques used, the benefits and concerns; synthetic nucleic acids - beyond DNA and RNA – dr hab. Adrianna Raczkowska/dr Marta Polańska

2. Synthetic Biology as a new field of science - basic principles, synthetic particles and biological systems; biobrick as the basic element in creating synthetic systems; the application of synthetic biology in biotechnology and medicine, future prospects and ethical issues – dr hab. Radosław Stachowiak

3. Silver and gold nanoparticles like multiactional new nanoweapon used for the treatment and prevention microbes - nanotechnology definition; nanometrical structures; nanoparticles synthesis; potential applications of silver-nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold-nanoparticles (AuNPs) in medicine and biotechnology – dr Anna Grudniak

4. Artificial photosynthesis for clean energy production - conversion of solar energy into clean fuel and electricity as the main challenge for mankind in 21st century. Hydrogen as the energy-rich, zero carbon footprint fuel. Photocatalytic water splitting and production of solar fuels using various architectures of the "artificial leaf" (graphene and oxide semiconductive electrode materials interfaced with various synthetic and biological catalysts). State-of-the-art most promising prototypes of artificial photosynthetic devices (biohybrid and synthetic photoelectrochemical cells and tandem dye sensitised solar cells). Photoplasmonics as means to improve solar energy conversion efficiency in artificial photosynthetic devices - dr hab. Joanna Kargul, prof. UW

5. New generation vaccines against human pathogens - new tendencies in the construction of subunit vaccines; selection of the antigen (reverse vaccinology); route of antigen administration. Types of vaccines: inactivated or killed pathogen, toxoid vaccines, live attenuated bacterial and viral strains, subunit vaccines, DNA vaccines, therapeutic vaccines. New adjuvants. Global effects of vaccination. Systems and structural vaccinology. Vaccinomics and the future of personalized vaccines – dr Agnieszka Wyszyńska

6. Plant biotechnology – industry, agriculture and medicine: vision of green future vs reality.

Usually we do not realize how much we are dependent from plants. Plants shape Earth, influence the civilization, and supply food and everything for living. But we can gain more. Green cities, houses using carbon dioxide released by inhabitants for plant growth, bioreactors for fuel production, farms where we can "cultivate" the insulin or vaccines – these are some advantages what plant biology and biotechnology can give us. We have chance for healthier and more ecological future, if only we want to improve it. Dr Danuta Solecka

7. Algae in biotechnology - a short description of this cluster of organisms, The use of algae as bioreactors to produce energy, drugs, cosmetics and food, current achievements and prospects for the future. The current utilization of algae on an industrial scale and their impact on the environment. Review of methods used in the transformation of algae, issues related to transformation - promoters and regulators of expression, selection markers, codon usage optimization. The advantages of algae and higher plants plastid transformation - current achievements and problems to solve - dr hab. Maksymilian Zienkiewicz

8. Learning from nature to develop strategies for the directed evolution of C4 rice to improve photosynthesis. Is possible to create rice plants by engineering C4 gens into C3 rice? Overexpression of C4 pathway gens in C3 dicots potato, tobacco and Arabidopsis: experiences and future challenges. General strategies for engineering CO2 fixation in plants. Changes in metabolic cycles: reduction of photorespiration by the installation of a bypass of photorespiration in the chloroplast. The problem with Rubisco. C3-C4 intermediates as a blueprint for engineering C4 photosynthesis. Whether introduction of the PEPC gene from a CAM plant into transgenic rice could carry out higher photosynthesis day and night?

9. Plant biotechnology, industry and agriculture. The use of plant tissue culture in food, drug and cosmetic industry. Methods of plant transformation. The use of transgenic plants in agriculture – prof. dr hab. Paweł Sowiński

10. Embryonic stem cells in basic research - application of embryonic stem cells in studies of cell differentiation processes in vivo (formation of chimaeras and teratomas containing derivatives of all three primary germ layers in immunodeficient mice ) and in vitro (formation of embryoid bodies - three-dimensional aggregates of ES cells recapitulating subsequent phases of differentiation, which occur during normal embryogenesis); examples of research and breakthrough discoveries involving these cells – dr Aneta Suwińska

11. Mammalian embryos and embryonic cells in biotechnology – new research possibilities will be demonstrated, which are created by modern experimental embryology combined with molecular biology. Application of these techniques pushed forward our knowledge on the role of different genes in control of the development and function of the animal organism. Transgenic animals, including animals in which certain genes were knocked-out or knocked-in, and cloned animals as invaluable tool in modern biology, biotechnology and biomedicine. Most important achievements, practical applications and further perspectives of modern experimental mammalian embryology – prof. dr hab. Marek Maleszewski

12. The application of stem cells in regenerative medicine - contemporary knowledge of stem cells (embryonic and tissue-specific), and their origin, mechanisms of differentiation; role in tissue repair in adult organisms, the possibility of using stem cells in regenerative medicine and therapy– dr hab. Edyta Brzóska-Wojtowicz

13. Cell penetrating peptides - a promising tool for delivery drugs to cells. The characterization of peptides penetrating cells (CPPs), the type of transported cargo, mechanisms of cell penetration by peptides, the use of CPPs for the transport of therapeutic and diagnostic molecules - dr Joanna Trzcińska Danielewicz

14. Applications of monoclonal antibodies in research, diagnosis and therapy, immunotherapy, the therapeutic modulation of the immune system activity, cancer vaccines – dr Ewa Kozłowska

Modern Biotechnology: Connecting Innovations in Microbiology and Biochemistry to Engineering Fundamentals. 2009. N.S. Mosier, M.R. Ladisch, Wiley pub.; Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2007. N. Okafor and the bibliography given individually by each of lecturers

KNOWLEDGE

- sees the dynamic development of the natural sciences and the emergence of new research disciplines and identifies the most important trends in the development of biological sciences in the field being studied by themselves specialties

- has in-depth knowledge in selected areas of biotechnology, microbial, plant, animal, industrial, medical and cellular engineering

- demonstrates the current state of knowledge in key sectors of biotechnology; has knowledge of: natural terminology, the latest research discoveries and their applications in biotechnology, medicine or agriculture

ABILITIES

- demonstrates the ability of critical analysis and selection of biological information, especially from electronic sources and media

- demonstrates the ability to use English language to the extent that the use of the scientific literature and communication with foreigners

- shows the ability to draw conclusions and formulate judgments based on data from various sources

SOCIAL AWARENESS

- is able to convey to the public knowledge about the latest developments of the natural sciences and to explain the rationale of fundamental research

- feels the need for constant training and updating knowledge using the scientific and popular sources concerning specialized biological sciences

- critically examines the information appearing in the media and can use them in practice

- has a habit of using objective sources of scientific information and use of the principles of critical reasoning in solving practical problems

- actively update the knowledge of nature and its practical application

- understands the need passed information to the public about other achievements of biotechnology and its importance and can pass this information in an understandable way

Lecture combined with a multimedia presentation.

The course will be evaluated based on a written single choice test examination. Student should receive a minimum of 51% of the highest score in the tests.

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