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68795-01 - Internship: Experimental Molecular Biology (12 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Annual course, starts in fall semester |
| Lecturers |
Oliver Biehlmaier (oliver.biehlmaier@unibas.ch)
Dominik Buser (dominik-pascal.buser@unibas.ch, Assessor) Alexia Loynton-Ferrand (alexia.ferrand@unibas.ch) Alexander Schier (alex.schier@unibas.ch) |
| Content | • Media and buffer preparation for Molecular Biology • Molecular cloning: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), endonuclease/restriction enzyme digestion, agarose gel electrophoresis, ligation, bacterial transformation, recombinant gene engineering, DNA plasmid isolation/purification, Sanger sequencing • Mammalian cell culture: Culturing, splitting, counting and seeding cells, plasmid transfection, protein expression, cell lysis • Protein analysis: Protein concentration determination, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western Blotting, Enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) • Light and Fluorescence Microscopy: Basics skills with light microscope, immunofluoresence (IF) staining • Scientific data illustration • Image analysis • Preparation and presentation of collected data • Reading and understanding literature • Experimental design • Troubleshooting |
| Learning objectives | Aim of the Experimental Molecular Biology (EMB) course is to train Biology students for the gradual transition from a student to a scientist, including training technical as well as scientific/intellectual skills. By combining these skills, students will dissect the function, localization, and interaction network of a protein of interest. Technical skills include essential lab skills, starting with pipetting, making buffers, cloning, CRISPR/Cas9, protein expression in mammalian cell culture, standard biochemical techniques, as well as more advanced techniques such as microscopy and proteomics. Scientific/intellectual skills comprise sharpening student’s mindset in planning and interpreting experiments, as well as reading, presenting, and discussing literature and scientific articles. |
| Bibliography | Lectures, protocols, other information, and the agenda will be provided using an internal platform and on ADAM (https://adam.unibas.ch). |
| Comments | Pregnant and nursing mothers should inform the assessor of the course at least two weeks prior to EMB course start. Students must have an accident insurance. Students requiring adaptive measures due to a handicap or chronic disorder should inform the assessor after registration. The “StoB (Studieren ohne Barrieren)” service center is available for your needs and assistance. In case of sickness, inform the assessor by mail with a letter of absence including a sick note (attest). Students are divided into two groups (group assignment will be communicated beginning of September): Group A: Tuesday-Wednesday, 13:15-18:00 Group B: Thursday-Friday, 13:15-18:00 After the first semester (HS2026) – in the transition to the next semester (FS2027) – there will be a rotation of the group students, i.e., students from Group B have the right to transition to Group A, while students from Group A will transition to Group B. Nevertheless, students having attended the EMB course in HS2026 in Group B can also remain in the Group B in FS2027. All students of Group A and B will meet on September 15, 2026 at 13:15 for a general course introduction (Ort folgt). For introduction into data management, we will host Dr. Michael Podvinec. For the introduction into microscopy, Dr. Oliver Biehlmaier and the Imaging Core Facility (IMCF) will run parts of the course as follows: • Introduction to microscopy and theory (teaching week for Group A and B): Datum folgt • Practical weeks: Datum folgt (lab weeks for Group A and B will be announced on our internal platform) |
| Admission requirements | Three requirements must be met for admission to the EMB course: 1) All examinations for the main lectures of the modules Bio 1 and Bio 2 must have been written. The combined grade average of the Bio 1 and Bio 2 modules must be sufficient. 2) The practical courses «Allgemeine Chemie» (12222) and «Grundlagen der präparativen organischen Chemie» (10571) must have been attended. Participation requirements and course dates can be found in the course directory. 3) You must register for the course via the Online Services no later than 20 August 2026 (https://services.unibas.ch/). Students who do not achieve the required grade average will be placed on a waiting list and may be considered if places become available. The criteria for admission from the waiting list will be determined if necessary. |
| Course application | You must register for the EMB course in unibas online services no later than August 20, 2026 (https://services.unibas.ch/). 68795-01 is meant for registration by Biology students. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 13.15-18.00 | Biozentrum, Praktikumslabor klein 02.029 |
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 13.15-18.00 | Biozentrum, Praktikumslabor klein 02.029 |
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 13.15-18.00 | Biozentrum, Praktikumslabor klein 02.029 |
| wöchentlich | Friday | 13.15-18.00 | Biozentrum, Praktikumslabor klein 02.029 |
| Comments |
Two afternoons per week (Tuesday and Wednesday or Thursday and Friday). Rooms and additional information for the first week will be announced by mail prior to EMB course start. |
Dates
| Modules |
Modul: Computational Biology (Bachelor's Studies: Computational Sciences) Module: Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Studies: Biology) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | To pass «Experimental Molecular Biology», the following points are required: • Attendance of class • Writing and documenting experiments in a lab journal on a weekly basis • Active participation in the lab and in class • Preparation and presentation of literature and research seminars • Leading good laboratory practice • 45-min exam at the end of the semester (18.12.2026, 13:15-14:00, Ort folgt) |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Biozentrum |