Genetic Engineering
Techniques for reading and editing genetic material.
- Self-paced
- 8–10 weeks
- 25+ hrs
- Credential included
Curriculum
6 subjects · 13 chapters · 52 topics
- 01
Molecular Biology Foundations
1.1 The genetic material
- DNA structure and replication
- Transcription and translation
- Gene regulation
- Genome organisation
1.2 Working with nucleic acids
- DNA and RNA extraction
- Quantification and quality checks
- Gel electrophoresis
- Spectrophotometry
- 02
Core Techniques
2.1 Amplification
- PCR principles and primer design
- Variants: RT-PCR, qPCR, nested
- Troubleshooting a failed reaction
- Applications
2.2 Cloning
- Restriction enzymes and ligation
- Vectors: plasmids, phages, BACs
- Transformation and selection
- Screening recombinants
2.3 Sequencing
- Sanger sequencing
- Next-generation sequencing
- Reading and assembling data
- Bioinformatics tools
- 03
Genome Editing
3.1 Editing technologies
- Zinc finger nucleases and TALENs
- CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism
- Guide RNA design
- Delivery methods
3.2 Assessing edits
- On-target validation
- Off-target effects
- Knockouts versus knock-ins
- Base and prime editing
- 04
Applications
4.1 Medicine
- Recombinant therapeutic proteins
- Gene therapy approaches
- Vaccines
- Diagnostics
4.2 Agriculture and industry
- Transgenic crops
- Pest and herbicide resistance
- Industrial enzymes
- Biofuels and biomaterials
- 05
Laboratory Practice
5.1 Working safely
- Biosafety levels
- Handling and disposal
- Sterile technique
- Record keeping
5.2 Protein work
- Expression systems
- Purification and chromatography
- SDS-PAGE and western blotting
- Activity assays
- 06
Ethics and Project
6.1 Ethics and regulation
- Regulatory approval pathways
- GMO labelling and public concern
- Human germline editing debate
- Biosafety and biosecurity
6.2 Project
- Designing an experiment
- Executing the protocol
- Analysing results
- Writing up the findings
