BIO417 Molecular Diagnostics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Jasmin Šutković
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The main objective of the course in “Molecular Diagnostic” is to make the student familiar to the procedures used in a Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics. The course will describe the techniques commonly used in diagnostics and molecular biology laboratories and the underlying principles and applications, advantages and limitations of each technique.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Molecular Diagnostics - Fundamentals, Methods and Clinical Applications. Second edition. By Lela Buckingham-2012
Additional Literature
-Teaching Methods
Lectures, literature exercise, and site visit
Participation in LABS, seminars and literature assignment is mandatory
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to syllabus - Biosafety in lab | TBA |
| 2 | Fundamentals of Nucleic Acids Biochemistry- An overview | Chapter 1-3 |
| 3 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biology -Nucleic Acids extractions and quantification- Lab 1 | Chapter 4-5 |
| 4 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Protein isolation/Quantification/Western blot- Lab 2 | Chapter 6 |
| 5 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - PCR methods - PCR Lab 3 | Chapter 7 |
| 6 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - PCR methods - QPCR Lab 4 | Chapter 8 |
| 7 | Midterm exam | |
| 8 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Chromosomal structure and mutations - Visit 1 | TBA |
| 9 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Gene mutations and detection methods | Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Sequencing methods | TBA |
| 11 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 1 - DNA polymorphisms and Human identification -Visit 2 | Chapter 11 |
| 12 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 2- Detection and identification of Microorganisms - Visit 3 | Chapter 12 |
| 13 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 3 - Molecular basis of Cancer | Chapter 14 |
| 14 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 4 - Quality assurance and control in the Mol. Biology lab | Chapter 16 |
| 15 | Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | A F1.13 | Or any time via teams |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 11:00 | A F1.13 | Or any time via teams |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam/Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Lab report/Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Lab Activity/Review paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Attecndance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
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:
Lab work
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Final exam study
11 hours ⏳ (1 week × 11 h)
Lectures
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Midterm preparation
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Home study
77 hours ⏳ (11 week × 7 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 [BIO417] 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 Mar 03, 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 | |||||||||
| BIO417 | Molecular Diagnostics | 3 | 0 | 6 | Mon: 15-17, Wed: 15-16 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Jasmin Šutković | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Or any time via teams Thursday: 9:00-11:00 Or any time via teams |
|||||||
| jsutkovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The main objective of the course in “Molecular Diagnostic” is to make the student familiar to the procedures used in a Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics. The course will describe the techniques commonly used in diagnostics and molecular biology laboratories and the underlying principles and applications, advantages and limitations of each technique. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Molecular Diagnostics - Fundamentals, Methods and Clinical Applications. Second edition. By Lela Buckingham-2012 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, literature exercise, and site visit. Participation in LABS, seminars and literature assignment is mandatory. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to syllabus - Biosafety in lab | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Fundamentals of Nucleic Acids Biochemistry- An overview | Chapter 1-3 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biology -Nucleic Acids extractions and quantification- Lab 1 | Chapter 4-5 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Protein isolation/Quantification/Western blot- Lab 2 | Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - PCR methods - PCR Lab 3 | Chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - PCR methods - QPCR Lab 4 | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Chromosomal structure and mutations - Visit 1 | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Gene mutations and detection methods | Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Common Techniques in Molecular Biolog - Sequencing methods | TBA | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 1 - DNA polymorphisms and Human identification -Visit 2 | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 2- Detection and identification of Microorganisms - Visit 3 | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 3 - Molecular basis of Cancer | Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Techniques in Clinical laboratory 4 - Quality assurance and control in the Mol. Biology lab | Chapter 16 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam/Project | 1 | 35 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Lab report/Assignments | 5 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Lab Activity/Review paper | 1 | 10 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Attecndance | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lab work | 1 | 14 | 14 | Final exam study | 11 | 1 | 11 | |||
| Lectures | 2 | 14 | 28 | Midterm preparation | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Home study | 7 | 11 | 77 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||