Online course: Holistic Foundations for Assessment and Regulation of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms

In cooperation with the University of Tromsø, GenØk-Centre for Biosafety will offer an online learning course in biosafety starting in January 2008. The course will be at Master’s level.

The course is designed to provide policy makers, regulators, scientists and NGOs/civil society leaders, specifically from developing countries (ODA-countries), with the necessary balanced and critical knowledge and training in crucial GE/GMO issues. The course will enable societies to harvest the benefits of genetic engineering in a safe and sustainable way, by demonstrating how a holistic approach can be taken to GE/GMO issues.

The course, which gives 10 ECTS-credits, will be taught part-time from January to May 2008 with approx. 20 participants working together in an “online classroom”. The application deadline is 1 December 2007. There is a course fee of USD 1000.


Course content

Module 1
Introduction to context and issues of the course.
• The Cartagena Protocol.
• Foundations of gene ecology
• The “ holistic corridor”

Module 2
Introduction to genomics and molecular biology.
• The structure of DNA
• Function of genes and genomes
• The fall of the central dogma; DNA-RNA-protein
• Epigenomics
• Ethical perspectives on the science underpinning genetic engineering

Module 3
Biodiversity as source of genetic resources
• The ecosystem as a donor and recipient of genes
• Implications of intellectual property rights
• Genomics, commercialization and environmental knowlegde
• Biodiversity usage and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities

Module 4
Genes, DNA and vectors
• Methods for recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering
• Changes in the genome, transcriptome, proteome and epigenome
• Horizontal and vertical gene transfer –where and how
• Present and potential future GMO and genetic engineering applications
• Risk concerns and knowledge gaps

Module 5
Risk assessment issues
• Contained use versus deliberate release of GMOs
• Ecological aspects; influence on ecosystem function and impact on biodiversity
• Health aspects; toxicology, allergenicity and cocarcinogenesis
• How to deal with risk, uncertainty and complexity

Module 6
The regulatory framework
• The precautionary principle
• Implementing sustainability, ethical and socio-economic concerns
• National biosafety policy and law
• The Cartagena Protocol on biosafety
• The WTO and other international agreements

Module 7
Risk management issues
• Monitoring strategies and methods for detecting GMOs
• The need, the methods and the mechanisms for public participation
• Biosafety forecast service


Prerequisites
Command of English at academic level. Basic computer skills. Access to the Internet. To qualify for the course, prospective students should have the following qualifications: bachelor’s degree or equivalent (minimum 3 years study at University) in a relevant area and practical experience from University, governmental agencies or international organization (minimum 2 years).

Download course description: http://felles.siteman.no/genok.org/filarkiv/File/course_description.doc

Download application form: http://felles.siteman.no/genok.org/filarkiv/File/APPLICATION_FORM_for_FREE_MOVERS07.doc

Further information

University of Tromsø: http://uit.no/informasjon/english?Language=en

Information about ECTS-points: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/ects/index_en.html

Contact persons

Katrine Jaklin, GenØk – katrine.jaklin@genok.org

Bjørn Hermansen, UiT – bjorn.hermansen@fagmed.uit.no