BIO502 Recent Advances in Biosciences
BIO502 Recent Advances in Biosciences
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
Syllabus Quick Jump
Search and navigate to any syllabus instantly
Genetics and Bioengineering
Lejla Mahmutović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
To introduce the graduate students with the recent advances in selected areas of biosciences.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Scientific publications
Additional Literature
Scientific publicationsTeaching Methods
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction and syllabus | |
| 2 | CRISPR and Gene Editing Technologies | |
| 3 | Organoids and Lab-grown Tissues | |
| 4 | mRNA and Next-Generation Vaccines | |
| 5 | AI and Machine Learning in Biomedicine | |
| 6 | Synthetic Biology and Designer Microbes | |
| 7 | 3D Bioprinting in Biomedicine | |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Advances in Immunotherapy | |
| 10 | Wearable and Implantable Biosensors | |
| 11 | Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapies | |
| 12 | Microbiome and Human Health | |
| 13 | Biomedical Applications of Nanotechnology | |
| 14 | Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Biomedical Advances | |
| 15 | Review and final presentation preparation |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO502.1 | Course | Thursday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.23 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 - 13:30 | Research Center | By appointment |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 13:00 | Research Center | |
| Thursday | 11:00 - 14:00 | Research Center |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 4
In term
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 5
Participation and discussion
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 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
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Midterm
24 hours ⏳ (2 week × 12 h)
Final
40 hours ⏳ (4 week × 10 h)
Active participation
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 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 [BIO502] 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 Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO502 | Recent Advances in Biosciences | 3 | 0 | 6 | Thursday 12:00 - 15:00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Lejla Mahmutović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 11:30-13:30 By appointment Wednesday: 10:00-13:00 Thursday: 11:30-14:00 |
|||||||
| lhalilovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | To introduce the graduate students with the recent advances in selected areas of biosciences. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Scientific publications | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ||||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction and syllabus | |||||||||
| Week 2 | CRISPR and Gene Editing Technologies | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Organoids and Lab-grown Tissues | |||||||||
| Week 4 | mRNA and Next-Generation Vaccines | |||||||||
| Week 5 | AI and Machine Learning in Biomedicine | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Synthetic Biology and Designer Microbes | |||||||||
| Week 7 | 3D Bioprinting in Biomedicine | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Advances in Immunotherapy | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Wearable and Implantable Biosensors | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapies | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Microbiome and Human Health | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Biomedical Applications of Nanotechnology | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Biomedical Advances | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and final presentation preparation | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In term | 1 | 30 | 2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation and discussion | 14 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Midterm | 12 | 2 | 24 | Final | 10 | 4 | 40 | |||
| Active participation | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 06/10/2025 | |||||||||