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Title What is life? The future of biology.
Course number 2001
Programme Tumörbiologi och onkologi (FoTO)
Language English
Credits 2.3
Date 2018-01-30 -- 2018-06-13
Responsible KI department Institutionen för mikrobiologi, tumör- och cellbiologi
Specific entry requirements
Purpose of the course This course should be chosen by those curious of where biomedicine will take us next. What are the possibilities and challenges with new high through put technologies? How accessible to research are complex systems like cells, organisms or brains? The students will also acquire an understanding of the conceptual and technical challenges in future biomedicine and advance their ability to ask scientific questions and identify significant - and possible - areas for problem solving. You will be involved in advanced reasoning on issues at the borderline of knowledge.
Intended learning outcomes After the course students shall be able to discuss:
1. Theories about complexity of biological systems 2. How biocomplexity can be studied. 3. The role of computational simulations in modern biology. How simulations can be done and what the predictive power is. How mathematics can be used in simulating biological phenomena. 4. How one understands the organisational principles of biological systems. If self-organisation is a field for study or just a trivial phenomenon. 5. How evolutionary theory can be formalised into mathematical models. 6. If quantum mechanical theory can have a role in molecular biology. 7. How genetic information can be converted to mechanical or electrical force in biological system.

Contents of the course Inspired by the seminal book by Erwin Schrödinger ""What is life?"" published close to 75 years ago we will adress this question again, in view of the impressive development since then.
There are many new concepts to consider in the future of biology, such as the consequencies of the -omics era, complexity, computation and simulation, as well as the role of mathematicss and physics in biological theory.
The course will cover areas such as biocomplexity, quantum mechanical theory in biology, computation and simulation (in silico biology), organization of biological systems, causality in biology, how does chemistry become electric and magnetic forces and evolutionary theory in the light of molecular biology.
Leading scientists with an overview perspective will be invited to discuss in the seminar form the challenges that meet us today in biology, as a result of the --omics era, the availability of large amounts of data as a result of high through-put techniques, and the possibilities provided by mathematics, simulation theory and computational biology. Young scientists in this areas are also invited to lecture from their perspective.
Teaching and learning activities One-two seminars + workshops every month for five months.
Every occasion consists of a 1-2 hour seminar with the invited expert, followed by a two hour workshop of basic concepts, i. e. 3-4 hours on each occassion. For each seminar the students will usually be given one article on the topic to read.
Active participation in discussions in groups with invited speaker of high international standards is a key element. Some lectures are shown as recorded DVD-lectures. You also receive DVD-recordings of all lectures for further self studies at home.
Compulsory elements The seminars and workshops are compulsory. Absence has to be compensated by an extra assignment after discussion with the course leader.
Examination Formatively during the workshop discussions. Summatively by a written individual home-exam (essay) covering the intended learning outcomes of the course.
Literature and other teaching material 1. Selected parts of E.Schrödinger What is life? The future of biology Cambridge Univ Press 1944. (150 pages)
2. Research articles.
Number of students 8 - 20
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) date for registration as a doctoral student (priority given to earlier registration date)
More information Every occassion with a lecture consists of appr 60 min lecture, followed by 1,5 hrs discussion in a smaller group, 1-2 lectures/month at 3 pm. They take place in the Wallenberg lecture Hall at Nobel Forum or other lecture hall at KI Solna Campus, The lecturers invited are Swedish or International high class speakers with topis intreresting to the What is life-theme. We have had guests speakers earlier such as Jim Watson, Craig Venter, Sydney Brenner or Antjé Jacklén. Occassionally instead a ""live"" speaker we show recordings of some earlier lectures. All lectures are recorded on DVD/YouTube and made available to all the partcipants. This term Schrödingers book ""What is life?"" will be included as course litterature as well as Chapters from Ernberg I, What is life? (eng translation of Vad är liv? Ernberg et al 2010, KI Univ Press)
Additional course leader Peter Århem, Neuro; Steven Jörsäter, Jorsater Co
Latest course evaluation Course evaluation report
Course responsible Ingemar Ernberg
Institutionen för mikrobiologi, tumör- och cellbiologi
+46852486262
Ingemar.Ernberg@ki.se

Box 280, Karolinska Institutet

17177
Stockholm
Contact person -