Genomes, Cells & Tissues

Course goals

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:  

1. Explain how molecular properties, concentration gradients, protein–protein interactions, and transport systems regulate processes at the molecular and cellular level. 

2. Evaluate the functional complexity of protein interactions and signaling pathways within the context of systems biology. 

3. Compare and explain different molecular mechanisms of cell communication and intracellular transport in various cellular contexts. 

4. Assess the significance of key control mechanisms in the regulation of the cell cycle and their impact on cellular function. 

5. Critically examine major molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and appraise current therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways. 

6. Evaluate and discuss the role of stem cells in tissue regeneration and analyze recent advances in stem cell engineering and their biomedical implications.Present the main finding from a Cell paper on one of the above topics. 

7. Provide constructive feedback to fellow students. 

8. Devise critical questions for an article and discuss them. 

Content

The aim of this course is to teach the function and organisation of the animal cell and its components. From the molecular level up to and including the functioning of cells in the tissues of living organisms.

Introduction:
In the first part of this course the central dogma of molecular biology will be discussed. DNA replication, transcription and translation. Using bioinformatics you will learn how complex the genome and the regulation of gene expression is. In the second part, cell function will be discussed, such as protein sorting, membrane transport, signalling pathways and the cell cycle. In part 2 we also discuss the cooperation of cells in tissues. For example, we will discuss apoptosis, cell-cell contacts and tissue renewal by stem cells. Attention will also be paid to situations in which these processes no longer function properly, such as in cancer. 

Course structure: 
The student independently reads the book chapter by chapter. After each chapter, a sequence of e-assessments, lectures, assignments and response lectures is followed. Starting after a short e-assessment the teacher, a specialist in their field, discusses the information of the chapter in a seminar. To get a deeper understanding of the content in the chapter the students will make assignments in small groups of 4-5 students. Afterwards, Teachers will be available to discuss the answers to the assignments and to clarify any misconceptions in tutorial discussions. The current use of the knowledge from the textbook is exemplified during a journal club, where groups of students present a Cell paper. The topic of the papers is current literature on plant/crop research.

Part-1: chapters 4-6 and 12-13 from Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts. 
Part-2: chapters 15, 17-20 and 22 from Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts, the lecture on tissues and the guest lecture on cancer therapy.

Relation to other courses:
This course extends on the knowledge acquired in the foundation course MBLS-101 ‘Cell Biology’. This course provides you with advanced knowledge in Molecular Cell Biology and connects well with all mandatory and elective courses within this field. Students that follow the profiles “Genes to Organisms” and “Molecules and Cells” are strongly advised to follow this course.

Teaching format course (estimation): 
Lectures 20%
Tutorials / group assignments 20%
Tutorial discussions 20%
Presentation (Journal club) 10%
Self study & self-assessments 30%

Grading (see course manual for details):
test/exam part 1 (45%)
test/exam part 2 (45%)
Journal club presentation(10%)

For each of the exams and for the journal club a 5.5 is the minimal grade to pass.
Attendance during the tutorials and journal clubs is mandatory. In addition, the individual self-assessments are also part of the effort requirements.