This minor in ‘Medical Biology - Molecular orientation’ gives you an introduction to various topics in molecular biology. You will get acquainted with subjects such as genomics and bioinformatics as well as with the immune system and RNA. More information on a specific course described below, can be found in the online course guide. If you scroll down you can find an active course guide link in the section "Learning Goals/Leerdoelen".

If you study a relevant Applied Sciences Bachelor's programme (see Requirements/Ingangseisen) this minor can replace the mandatory Pre-Master's. That means that with this minor of 30 ECTS, you will be directly admitted to the relevant Master’s specialisation in Medical Biology at Radboud University after having finished your Applied Sciences diploma.

Note that our Master's programme has 3 different specialisations. You need to choose your minor in a good way so that it connects to the Master's specialisation of your choice. In case of doubt contact us.

You will follow three courses per period: one course on Monday/Tuesday, one course on Wednesday and one course on Thursday/Friday. You see below that you can choose a course of your own preference on Monday/Tuesday in period 2, on the Wednesday in period 2 and on Thursday/Friday in period 1 and 2.

Period 1

Monday/Tuesday

• RNA Structure and Function (NWI-MOL107)

Wednesday

• Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095)
On campus course

or

• Biology and Society (NWI-BB011B)

Thursday/Friday

• Essentials of Organic Chemistry (NWI-MOL101)

or

• Medical Biotechnology (NWI-MOL104) (via application letter, deadline July 31)

Period 2

Monday/Tuesday

• Infectious Diseases (NWI-BB097)

or

• Pharmacochemistry (NWI-MOL053)

Wednesday

•  Introduction to R Programming (NWI-BB095)
Self study course

or

• Exploring Science in Society (NWI-FC0041)

or

• History of Biology (NWI-BB028B)

Thursday/Friday

• Nanobiotechnology (NWI-MOL078)

or

• Molecular Principles of Development (NWI-BB084B)

 

RNA Structure and Function: In this course, students will be introduced to the diversity of especially non-coding RNA molecules and their functions in the cell. An interdisciplinary approach to understanding RNA structure and function will be taken.

Introduction to R Programming: This course provides a gentle and stepwise introduction to the world of R programming. After completion of this course, you will master the basics of programming in R. In particular, you can

1. Create, load and manipulate data
2. Perform exploratory data analysis
3. Visualize your data in attractive graphs
4. Create efficient code by applying functions to series of objects
5. Find help and resources to take your coding skills to a next level.

Biology and Society: In this course the societal role of biology will be addresses: biology plays a role in society and this can cause conflicts, tension and ethical issues.

Essentials of Organic Chemistry: In this course you will learn about the essentials of organic chemistry. You will be taught how organic molecules are built up out of atoms by describing their electronic structure and bonding interactions. This will be followed by a discussion of some basic reactions that molecules can undergo. Additionally, reactions that are commonly observed in biology will be highlighted.

Medical Biotechnology: Medical biotechnology is the application of living cells or cell material in the development or generation of products to prevent, diagnose or treat human disease. Through this course, you will obtain an overview of how interdisciplinary efforts help shaping modern healthcare by developing biotechnological diagnostics and therapeutics for precision medicine. You have to apply via a letter to the teacher (see course guide). There are limited positions.

Infectious Diseases: This course will focus on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and mechanisms of viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, thereby integrating the microbiological and immunological principles of infectious diseases. The students will learn about the basic mechanism of the routes of entry and transmission of pathogens and the course of infection of different sites of the body. Furthermore, this course will also include the molecular and cellular details on microbial adaptation to the host, virulence mechanisms and mechanisms of cell and tissue damage leading to acute and chronic infections. The student will reflect on the societal impact of infectious diseases and will learn about the diagnosis, vaccination and treatment of infections.

 

Pharmacochemistry: This course will discuss the fundamental principles underlying the mode of action and metabolism of drugs in the human body. Apart from that, an overview will be provided of the specific methods applicable for design, synthesis and optimization of new drugs, with particular focus on the relationship between structure and activity.

Exploring Science in Society: The purpose of this course is to get acquainted with topics of science in society on the basis of case studies and to gain insight into the interaction between science, politics, media and citizens. 

History of Biology: It may sound like a dreadful cliché, but the aim of this course is to learn from the past. The course will not present you with an endless stream of historic facts or isolated funny anecdotes (although some of the history of biology can be quite entertaining). The stress will be on the interpretation of history: we will try to understand patterns and relations in the development of biology, rather than list who discovered what, where, and when.

Nanobiotechnology: The course will cover various aspects of applications of nanobiotechnology in drug delivery and diagnostics, analytical methods and microsystems for control, manipulation and analysis. 

Molecular Principles of Development: Cells can be induced to adopt a state of pluripotency, but can also transdifferentiate to other cell types. These discoveries are relevant for regenerative medicine and have spurred a renewed interest in the regulatory mechanisms of embryogenesis. This course links genes, gene products and pathways to the complex processes underlying developmental biology.

Infectious Diseases: This course will focus on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and mechanisms of viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, thereby integrating the microbiological and immunological principles of infectious diseases. The students will learn about the basic mechanism of the routes of entry and transmission of pathogens and the course of infection of different sites of the body. Furthermore, this course will also include the molecular and cellular details on microbial adaptation to the host, virulence mechanisms and mechanisms of cell and tissue damage leading to acute and chronic infections. The student will reflect on the societal impact of infectious diseases and will learn about the diagnosis, vaccination and treatment of infections.

See the learning goals of each individual course in the online course guide for more detailed information.

Third or fourth year of the Bachelor's of Applied Sciences Universities. In general all medical and molecular related sciences course programmes, such as BML and bioinformatics.

See the literature (mandatory or optional) of each individual course in the online course guide.

The courses of period 1 are scheduled from September 2 – November 1, 2024. The courses of period 2 are scheduled from November 4 – January 24, 2025.

As soon as you are fully enrolled at Radboud University you will be able to construct your Personal Schedule via the Student Portal by adding the course codes or course name to your Personal Schedule.

For every course there is a first exam and a resit opportunity in the same study year. The first exam is scheduled at the end of the period and the resit is scheduled in the last week of the next period.

See the information in the online course guide for more details about exams / products of each individual course.

At the end of the minor when all courses are passed you can request your grade list at the coordinator of the minor programme. More information will be given during the introduction meeting and you will receive emails during the minor to update you on this.