This document outlines the agenda for a lunch lecture series on basics of biology. It will introduce key concepts across 5 chapters: building blocks of life, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and immunology. The first part focuses on biomolecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids that make up living organisms. It also distinguishes prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The second part covers genomics, explaining DNA, genes and heredity. It also describes central dogma, cell division and protein synthesis. The final part introduces proteomics and how it relates proteins and genomics.

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CONFIDENTIAL
Basics of biology – Verhaert lunch lectures
Jef Aernouts

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Format
• Introduce basic concepts
• Backbone slides
• Videos
• Interactive <-> expert panel ;-)

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Chapters
• Building blocks of life
• Genomics
• Proteomics
• Metabolomics
• Immunology

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Part 1: building blocks
of life

5. CONFIDENTIAL
Biomolecules
Backbone slide
Life
Living organisms
forming
viruses bacteria fungi plants animals
Made up of cell(s):
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
classes

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Building blocks of life – 4 types of biomolecules
Carbohydrates (koolhydraten)
• Monomer: monosaccharides
• Name: -ose (mono- & di-saccharides)
• Function: short-term energy provider, structure in
plants (cellulose) …
• Chemical elements: CHO
• Example: glucose (CH2O)6
Lipids (vetten)
• Monomers: fatty acids & glycerols
• Classes: Fat (solids, mostly saturated) vs. Oil (liquid,
mostly unsaturated)
• Function: long-term energy provider, insulation,
part of cell membranes …
• Chemical elements: CHO (less O than carbs)
• Example: butterfat (milk)
Proteins (eiwitten)
• Monomer: amino-acids (20 types)
• Peptides (< 100 amino acids) vs. Proteins (>100)
• Function: versatile
• Classes:
• Structural; e.g. hemoglobin (O2 carrier in
blood)
• Enzymes (-ase), biocatalists;
e.g. alcohol dehydrogenase
• Chemical elements: CHON
Nucleic acids (nucleïnezuren)
• Monomer: nucleotides
• Function: genetic information, energy
• Chemical elements: CHONP
• Example: DNA
Glycolipids
Glycoproteins

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Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
• Small and simple
• Only bacteria
• Composed of:
• Genetic information
(floats freely in cell)
• Cytoplasm (cellular fluid)
• Cell membrane • Large and complex
• Genetic information in nucleus
• Contains organelles (=“small
organs inside the cell”) with
specific functions
• Cell membrane

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Eukaryotic cells
Size:
• most cells 10-15 µm
• egg cell largest 100 µm
• nerve cells 1 m long
Humans consist of
10 trillion cells (10.1012)

9. Part 2: genomics &
proteomics

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Backbone slide
DNA
Central dogma of molecular biology
Genomics
Definitions & key
understandings
Cell division
Protein synthesis
(gene expression)

11. Genetics vs. genomics
Source: http://www.who.int

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Genetics – introductory video
Video: https://youtu.be/0_b80fHmuWw

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• DNA: A long linear polymer formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix, associated with
the transmission of genetic information.
cf. Collection of all words in a cookbook
• Gene: A hereditary unit consisting of a sequence of DNA that occupies a specific location and is
transcribed into an RNA molecule that may function directly or be translated into an amino acid
chain.
cf. Various recipes in a cookbook
• Chromosomes: A linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells
that carries the genes and functions in the transmission of hereditary information.
cf. Bundle of various chapters with recipes (when copying the cooking book)
• Genome: The total genetic content contained in a living organism.
cf. The cooking book
Genetics – keywords

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• All cells contain all genetic information (DNA)
• Level of organization (eukaryotic cell):
Genetics – key understandings
Base pairs

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DNA = very large molecule, shape is double helix
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
• Support: sugars (deoxyribose) and phosphates
• Actual information: 4 bases (always in pairs)
• Adenine bonds with Thymine
• Cytosine bonds with Guanine
In humans: 3.200.000.000 base pairs
Genetics – DNA

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Gene: A stretch of DNA that codes for something
 tells the body how to make proteins
 proteins carry out most of the functions in an organism
Humans: 25.000 – 40.000 genes
few genes define direct trait (e.g. Hair color)
combinations/interactions define most traits
Only 2% of DNA are genes (cf. Not all text in textbook are recipes)
Genetics – Genes

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In humans: 3.200.000.000 base pairs
 0,1% differs accross humans: enough to code all differences
Genetics – DNA/genes facts
DNA content (base pairs)
Number of genes
However, humans much more protein interactions

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• Only present during cell division (see next
• Humans 23 pairs: one from mother, one from father
Thus, each gene is present twice!
cf. Different recipes for same plate (e.g. Spaghetti bolognaise)
Dominance defines which gene is more pronounced = heredity
Genetics – Chromosomes

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Genetics – Heredity intro video
Video: https://youtu.be/Mehz7tCxjSE

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Heredity: the passing of traits from parents to offspring
• Meaning: children inherit their biological parents’ genes that express specific traits (physical
characteristics, natural talents ...)
• ’Discovered’ by Mendel in 1866 (established rules of heredity by studying pea plants)
• Example: eye color
Genetics – Heredity

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Backbone slide
DNA
Central dogma of molecular biology
Definitions & key
understandings
Cell division
Genomics
Protein synthesis
(gene expression)

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1. DNA can be copied to DNA (replication)
2. DNA can be copied into RNA (transcription)
3. Proteins can be synthesized using the information in RNA (translation)
Central dogma of molecular biology

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Backbone slide
DNA
Central dogma of molecular biology
Definitions & key
understandings
Cell division
Genomics
Protein synthesis
(gene expression)

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Cell division > growth
From a human egg and sperm cell towards 10 trillion cells
• Cell division (mitosis & meiosis)
• Cell differentiation

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Cell division – mitosis introductory video
Video: https://youtu.be/JcZQkmooyPk

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Cell division – mitosis vs. meiosis introductory video
Video: https://youtu.be/Ba9LXKH2ztU

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Cell division
Mitosis
Cell division, copying all genetic content
• Growth
• Repair
In humans, this means replication of 46
chromosomes
E.g. skin repair
Meiosis
Cell division copying only half of the genetic
content
• Reproduction cells
• Mixing of the genetic content

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Cell differentiation
From stem cell towards specific cells
(new blood cells do not just copy, but evolve from stem cells)
Example: blood cells

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Backbone slide
DNA
Central dogma of molecular biology
Definitions & key
understandings
Cell division
Genomics
Protein synthesis
(gene expression)

30. Proteomics
Proteins + genomics = proteomics
Proteomics: a branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of molecular biology,
biochemistry, and genetics to analyzing the structure, function, and interactions of the proteins
produced by the genes of a particular cell, tissue, or organism, with organizing the information in
databases.
Very complex field.
Protein synthesis (gene expression) is essential for a good understanding.

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Protein synthesis – introductory video
Video: https://youtu.be/zwibgNGe4aY

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Protein synthesis
Genes code for PROTEINS:

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Protein synthesis
Proteins are the essential building block for life:

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CONFIDENTIAL
Backbone slide
DNA
Central dogma of molecular biology
Definitions & key
understandings
Cell division
Genomics
Protein synthesis
(gene expression)

35. Slide 35
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Chapters
• Building blocks of life
• Genomics
• Proteomics
• Metabolomics
• Immunology

36. Slide 36
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