Nenad Ban: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2023 |
Name | Prof. Dr. Nenad Ban |
Field | Molekulare Strukturbiologie |
Address | Inst. f. Molekularbiol.u.Biophysik ETH Zürich, HPK H 3 Otto-Stern-Weg 5 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
Telephone | +41 44 633 27 85 |
Fax | +41 44 633 12 46 |
ban@mol.biol.ethz.ch | |
Department | Biology |
Relationship | Full Professor |
Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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551-0125-00L | Fundamentals of Biology I: From Molecules to the Biochemistry of Cells | 6 credits | 5G | J. Vorholt-Zambelli, N. Ban, R. Glockshuber, K. Locher, J. Piel | ||||||||||||||||||||
Abstract | The lecture provides an introduction to the basics of biochemistry and molecular biology as well as evolutionary principles. The focus is on bacteria and archaea under consideration of universal concepts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning objective | Introduction to biochemistry, molecular biology and evolutionary principles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Content | The lecture introduces biology as an interdisciplinary science. Links to physics and chemistry will manifest as biological processes that operate within the laws of thermodynamics and are rooted in elements, molecules and chemical reactions. The transition from geochemistry to biochemistry is discussed and considered in relation to the origin of life. Evolutionary principles are introduced and resulting processes are used as a guiding principle. Unifying concepts in biology are presented, including the structure and function of cellular macromolecules and the ways in which hereditary information is encoded, decoded and replicated. Central principles of universal energy conversion are looked at, starting from redox processes and focusing on bacteria and archaea. Finally, biological processes are put into an ecosystems perspective. The lecture is divided into different sections: 1. Geochemical perspectives on Earth and introduction to evolution 2. Building blocks of life 3. Macromolecules: Proteins 4. Membranes and transport across the plasma membrane 5. Universal mechanisms of inheritance, transcription and translation 6. Reaction Kinetics, binding equilibria and enzymatic catalysis 7. Essentials of Catabolism 8. Essentials of Anabolism 9. Metabolism and biogeochemical cycling of elements | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Lecture notes | The newly conceived lecture is supported by scripts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Literature | The lecture is supported by scripts. The lecture contains elements of "Brock Biology of Microorganisms", Madigan et al. 15th edition, Pearson und "Biochemistry" (Stryer), Berg et al. 9th edition, Macmillan international. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Competencies![]() |
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551-1407-00L | RNA Biology Lecture Series I: Transcription & Processing & Translation Does not take place this semester. | 4 credits | 2V | F. Allain, N. Ban, S. Jonas, U. Kutay, further lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||
Abstract | This course covers aspects of RNA biology related to gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. These include RNA transcription, processing, alternative splicing, editing, export and translation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning objective | The students should obtain an understanding of these processes, which are at work during gene expression. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Content | Transcription & 3'end formation ; splicing, alternative splicing, RNA editing; the ribosome & translation, translation regulation, RNP biogenesis & nuclear export, mRNA surveillance & mRNA turnover; signal transduction & RNA. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology. |