Biochemistry

Biochemistry, the scientific field studying the determinants of physiological processes on the molecular level is one of the fastest developing areas these days. It can be evident even for someone not involved directly in research: DNA sequencing is now a service advertised on Facebook – the first human genome sequencing project lasted 13 years and required the cooperation of 20 research groups around the world; genetically modified children are about to be born – even if that is not considered ethical, technically it’s not a problem any more; highly effective cancer therapies are available and there are more to come. All of this is made possible by a rapid development of techniques and instruments that enable scientists to describe and understand molecular processes in a detail unprecedented before. But how exactly are these discoveries made, what are the tools we can use to study and understand the molecular mechanisms coordinating life around and within us? This course centers on the experimental methods used in modern biochemistry and the information they give us on physiological processes.