Course content

In 'Biopolymeric Materials', emphasis will be placed on the properties and behavior of biological macromolecules at concentrations above critical overlap concentration, such as viscosity profile, order / disorder transitions, gel formation, viscoelastic properties and phase behavior when mixing macromolecules. Examples of the use of biopolymers will be given with special emphasis on biomedicine and biopolymers used in immobilization of cells and enzymes. Demonstration of rheological equipment for characterization of soft materials will be given.

Bioinformatics: introduction to the field of bioinformatics, covering genome sequencing methods, genome assembly, sequence alignment, evolution of genes sequences, protein structures, annotation of protein functions, and relevant tools and databases. Development of python programming skills using the Jupyter environment.

Learning outcome

Biopolymeric materials: Basic knowledge of biological biopolymers in concentrated solutions and gels, materials based on them and how such materials can be tailored and changed to defined properties.

Bioinformatics: The student understands genome sequencing methods and their limitations. The student can apply computational tools for genome assembly and annotation. The student can explain the principles and applications of sequence alignment. The student can extract information from bioinformatics databases and write python scripts to process and analyze multiple types of data. The student can combine data from different bioinformatics databases to analyze the function of genes and proteins.

Learning methods and activities

Biopolymeric materials: Lectures and demonstrations.

Bioinformatics: Weekly lectures (8 x 3h) divided into theory (1h) and computer exercises (2h). Group project and home study (self-paced).

Recommended previous knowledge

Biopolymeric materials: Previous knowledge in biochemistry, microbiology, biochemical engineering, and molecular genetics is required; e.g. corresponding to the courses TBT4107, TBT4110, TBT4145 and TBT4135.

Bioinformatics: Introduction to Python (TDT4110 or equivalent), Cell and Molecular biology (BI1001 or equivalent), Biochemistry (TBT4102 or equivalent).

Course materials

Biopolymeric materials: Information will be given at commencement of the course.

Bioinformatics: lecture slides and documentation for relevant tools and databases (given during the lectures).

Credit reductions