MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND

DIAGNOSTICS
MLSMOLB
Course Facilitators:
Asst. Prof. Jose Angelo A. Bunag, RMT, M.Sc
Mr. Alvin John L. Erese
Theo John M. Segismundo, RMT
 ABOUT THE COURSE
• Third Year, Third Term
• Course Code: MLSMOLB
• Course Title: Molecular Biology and Diagnostics
• Units: 2 units Lecture
• Hours/week (Lec, Lab): 2.4 hours/week (Lec), 6 hours/week (Lab)
• Pre-requisite: Cytogenetics
 COURSE DESCRIPTION
• This course provides detailed look at the molecular basis of the
activities between and among biomolecules in the various system of a
cell including interaction between deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic
acid, and protein - their biosynthesis, as well as the regulation of their
interactions.
• It also includes discussion of the different techniques in molecular
biology such as nucleic acid and protein extractions, amplification
techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis,
macromolecule blotting and probing, microarrays and among others.
Moreover, the application of molecular biology in clinical diagnostics
will be given emphasis.
 COURSE OUTCOMES
• Demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills on molecular biology and
diagnostics.
• Generate a system that will facilitate teamwork with other health care
professionals in applying concepts of molecular biology in diagnosing
diseases.
• Analyze laboratory results and actual patient cases seen in the clinical
practice; evaluate the needs and problems in the current practice of
molecular biology in the field of Medical Technology and apply necessary
actions.
• Exemplify equality and excellence in providing quality laboratory service to
the community.
• Exhibit accuracy, precision, and reliability in the performance of laboratory
tests.
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
DATE
TOPIC LECTURE LABORATORY
March 27 – 29, 2025
A. Introduction to Molecular Biology and
April 1 – 6, 2024 Diagnostics Laboratory
B. Laboratory Safety
C. Pipetting Techniques
D. Specimen Collection
A. What is Molecular Biology and E. Sterilization/Aseptic Technique
Diagnostics? F. Laboratory Mathematics
B. History of Molecular Biology G. Instrumentation and Equipment Usage
1 C. Applications of Molecular Biology H. Laboratory Set-Up
April 8 – 13, 2024
A. Nucleic
a. Structure
b. Functions
c. Types
d. Repair, and recombination A. Overview of Central Dogma
2 B. Chromosomes B. Transcription of DNA sequence
April 15 – 20, 2024
A. DNA Isolation from various specimens
A. DNA replication B. DNA purification
April 22 – 27, 2024
B. Transcription C. Detection
3 C. Translation D. Quality Control
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
DATE
TOPIC LECTURE LABORATORY
April 29 – May 4, 2024

A. Human Genome
B. None-human Genome
C. Variations in the Human Genome
a. Single nucleotide variants
b. Copy number variations A. DNA technology
c. Fusions B. Recombinant DNA technology
d. Short tandem repeats C. Primer designing
e. Transposable elements and their D. Analyzing DNA sequences through
genetic fossils BLAST tool
f. Human epigenetic alterations E. DNA digestion
D. Nomenclature F. Digestion and Recombinant DNA
E. Databases G. Partial DNA library and Isolation of
4 F. Informatics plasmid
5 May 6 – 11, 2024 MIDTERM EXAM
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
DATE
TOPIC LECTURE LABORATORY
May 13 – 18, 2024

A. History of nucleic acid preparation tools

B. Basic steps in nucleic acid isolation
a. Lysis
b. Protein removal
c. Purification of nucleic acid
d. Concentration techniques
C. Storage Protocols A. Amplifications techniques – PCR
D. Impact of sample matrix on nucleic acid B. RNA
preparation C. RNA Isolation and Purification
E. Nucleic Acid Quality and Quantity D. Detection
6 F. Applications E. Quality Control
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
TOPIC DATE LECTURE LABORATORY
May 20 – 25, 2024 A. Preparatory steps: nucleic acid fragmentation;
bisulfite treatment for methylation analysis;
conversion of RNA to cDNA etc.
B. Amplification techniques
C. Polymerase Chain Reaction
a. Process
b. Kinetics Optimization
c. Primer design
d. Contamination, inhibition and controls
e. Detection limits
D. Other types of PCR: multiplex, nested selective
amplification, real time PCR
E. Transcription-Based Amplification Methods
F. Loop-Mediated Amplification Methods
G. Strand Displacement Amplification
H. Miscellaneous types of amplification
I. Detection Techniques
a. Nucleic acid probes: indirect detection of
hybridized probes and fluorescent labels
b. Electrochemical detection
J. Discrimination techniques
a. Electrophoresis
b. Alternative to electrophoresis:
pyrosequencing, Mass Spectrometry, High
Performance Liquid Chromatography A. Reverse Transcription, RT-PCR, and RT-qPCR
7 c. Hybridization Assays B. Analysis of results
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
DATE
TOPIC LECTURE LABORATORY
May 27 – June 1, 2024

A. Basic introduction: structure,

properties, and functions
B. Protein structure and functions
C. Amino acid and protein metabolism
D. Protein formation
E. Post-translational modifications
F. Protein catabolism
G. Clinically relevant proteins
H. Methods for analyzing proteins
a. Total protein determination A. Protein extraction/isolation/purification
b. Electrophoresis B. Protein identification and quantification
c. Immunochemical techniques for C. Protein electrophoresis
specific proteins D. Western blotting
d. Proteins in specific body fluid E. Protein quantification: Bradford, BCA,
8 and/or material and ELISA
 COURSE OUTLINE
CONTENT
DATE
TOPIC LECTURE LABORATORY
June 3 – 8, 2024 A. Detection of molecular markers for the
A. Molecular Microbiology diagnosis of diseases: Nucleic acid
B. Molecular Oncology isolation, PCR, SNP detection, blotting,
C. Molecular Hematology etc.
D. Infectious diseases B. Bioinformatics: BLAST, codon code
E. Non-communicable diseases alignment, phylogenetic analysis and
9 F. Pre-natal diagnostics others
June 10 – 15, 2024 A. Direct-t-consumer tests
B. Pre-testing counseling
C. Communicating test results
D. Duty to disclose
E. Genetic discrimination
F. Informed consent and autonomy
G. Privacy and confidentiality
H. Psychosocial impact
I. Reproductive issues
J. Societal values
K. Test utility
10 L. Test validity
11 June 17 – 22, 2024 FINAL EXAM
GRADING SYSTEM
GRADING SYSTEM
 RESOURCES
• Official Textbook: Chang-Hui, S. Diagnostic Molecular Biology.
Elsevier Inc. 2019
• References:
• Rifai, N., Horvath, A., Wittwer, C., Park, J. Principles and Applications of
Molecular Diagnostics. Elsevier Inc. 2018
• Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., &
Walter, P. Essential of Cell Biology, 5th edition. New York: Garland Science.
2015.
• Bishop, Michael L., et al. Clinical Chemistry: Principles, Procedures,
Correlations 7h edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams, Philadelphia, 2012.
• Henry, John Bernard. Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods 22d Edition.
W.B., 2011.
 LABORATORY MANUAL
• Pineda-Cortel MR, Ranido M, Tesalona S, Vargas A, & Manahan E
(2020). Worktext in Molecular Biology and Diagnostics. C and E
Publishing (e-book).