BIO312 Techniques in Molecular Biology
BIO312 Techniques in Molecular Biology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
To identify the fundamental aspects of molecular biology techniques. To apply the principles of molecular methods in a design to sense, study or control a biological system. To report on a thorough analysis of a design involving a quantitative molecular application.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
-Lab Manuals (will be given in the class) (1) Wilson, K. (2011) Principles and techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. ; (2) Lodish, H.F. (2008) Molecular cell biology. New York: W.H. Freeman.
Additional Literature
Molecular Biology Techniques A Classroom Laboratory Manual 4th Edition Authors: Sue Carson, Heather Miller, Melissa Srougi, D. Scott Witherow eBook ISBN: 9780128157756Teaching Methods
Lecture presentations and class discussions, Laboratory work
Active tutorials help students practice concepts
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Techniques in Molecular Biology; Biosafety rules; Syllabus review | In-class material |
| 2 | DNA/RNA isolation methods and Quantification; LAB 1: DNA isolation from buccal swab | (1) Ch 5; In-class material |
| 3 | Electrophoresis of nucleic acid; LAB 2: RNA isolation by TRIzol-Chloroform | (1) Ch 10; In-class material |
| 4 | Protein isolation and purification; LAB 3: Nucleic acid quantification | (1) Ch 8; In-class material |
| 5 | Protein quantification and detection method; LAB 4: Total protein isolation from human cells | (1) Ch 8; In-class material |
| 6 | Protein-protein interaction assays; Quiz 1 | (1) Ch 11, 12; In-class material |
| 7 | Protein expression analysis; LAB 5: Protein quantification / Bradford assay | In-class material |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Western blot technique; LAB 6: SDS-page | In-class material |
| 10 | LAB 7: Western blot 1 | In-class material |
| 11 | LAB 8: Western blot 2 | In-class material |
| 12 | Polymerase chain reaction (PCR / RT-qPCR); LAB 9: PCR / RT-qPCR | (1) Ch 5; In-class material |
| 13 | Microarray analysis; Advances and trends in omics technology | Wilson & Walker; In-class material |
| 14 | Modern methods in molecular biology | Lodish et al.; In-class material |
| 15 | Review and final exam preparations |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO312.1 | Course | Thursday 11:00 - 12:50 | B F1.22 | - | - |
| BIO312.1 | Tutorial | Thursday 13:00 - 16:50 | RC.G3 - GBE III | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 12:00 | Research Center | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | Research Center |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Laboratory assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Laboratory exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours/Lab
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quiz
3 hours ⏳ (1 week × 3 h)
Home Study
75 hours ⏳ (15 week × 5 h)
Midterm exam
6 hours ⏳ (1 week × 6 h)
Final Exam Study
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Lab assignemnts
9 hours ⏳ (9 week × 1 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO312] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO312 | Techniques in Molecular Biology | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | BIO301 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-12:00 Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| ahromic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Abas Sezer | Assistant E-mail | asezer@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | To identify the fundamental aspects of molecular biology techniques. To apply the principles of molecular methods in a design to sense, study or control a biological system. To report on a thorough analysis of a design involving a quantitative molecular application. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | -Lab Manuals (will be given in the class) (1) Wilson, K. (2011) Principles and techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. ; (2) Lodish, H.F. (2008) Molecular cell biology. New York: W.H. Freeman. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecture presentations and class discussions, Laboratory work. Active tutorials help students practice concepts. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Techniques in Molecular Biology; Biosafety rules; Syllabus review | In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 2 | DNA/RNA isolation methods and Quantification; LAB 1: DNA isolation from buccal swab | (1) Ch 5; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Electrophoresis of nucleic acid; LAB 2: RNA isolation by TRIzol-Chloroform | (1) Ch 10; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Protein isolation and purification; LAB 3: Nucleic acid quantification | (1) Ch 8; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Protein quantification and detection method; LAB 4: Total protein isolation from human cells | (1) Ch 8; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Protein-protein interaction assays; Quiz 1 | (1) Ch 11, 12; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Protein expression analysis; LAB 5: Protein quantification / Bradford assay | In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Western blot technique; LAB 6: SDS-page | In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 10 | LAB 7: Western blot 1 | In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 11 | LAB 8: Western blot 2 | In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Polymerase chain reaction (PCR / RT-qPCR); LAB 9: PCR / RT-qPCR | (1) Ch 5; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Microarray analysis; Advances and trends in omics technology | Wilson & Walker; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Modern methods in molecular biology | Lodish et al.; In-class material | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and final exam preparations | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 24 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Laboratory assignments | 8 | 12 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Laboratory exam | 1 | 18 | 2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 6 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours/Lab | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quiz | 3 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Home Study | 5 | 15 | 75 | Midterm exam | 6 | 1 | 6 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 12 | 1 | 12 | Lab assignemnts | 1 | 9 | 9 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 26/02/2026 | |||||||||