Trending Topics on Biomolecules

Cells are constructed from molecular building blocks such as nucleotides, proteins, lipids, and sugars. To grasp how cells perform their task, a profound understanding is required of the properties and structures of these biomolecules and how they interact and cooperate in biochemical pathways. Regulation of molecular complexes and pathways proceeds via a vast array of signals that originate from within the cell and the outside world. Given this dynamic regulation, it is more difficult to decipher and understand the workings of the cell (and to reconstitute one from scratch), than build a spacecraft engine for Elon Musk.

This level-3 course will focus on recent conceptual developments in the molecular regulation of physiological processes. Perturbation of these processes often leads to disease states, several of which will be treated. Lectures will be given by guest scientists and UU staff that are experts in their fields and regularly publish in leading journals. The content of the lecture series will reflect recent developments in the different subject areas. The guest speakers will lecture on their research topic which is followed by a discussion of the research paper in an interactive format. In preparation of the guest speakers, there will be tutorials where you will dissect and investigate the research paper(s) of the guest speaker in detail.

The course also will have two journal clubs that are based on a selection of primary papers, related to the subject material that has been covered by the lectures. Students will work in groups to jointly prepare the presentation. The last week of the course serves as preparation time for the exam.
Lectures, tutorials and journal clubs are compulsory with 100% attendance. The course requires a significant investment of time for self-study and subgroup meetings that are compulsory as well and are planned outside contact hours but within the time slot. This is not easy and requires a substantial investment of time. Students need therefore to reserve the entire timeslot BC for the course. For that reason it is not possible to participate in other courses in the same time slot, which will be checked before the start of the course.

Nota bene: You can register for this course if you still need to retake the courses from the entry requirements. But: you will not be permitted entry to the course if you have not received a sufficient grade for the retake. The coordinator will only make exceptions on very special grounds. If you are uncertain that you will be able to receive a sufficient grade for the retake, it is best to register for another course in BC as well, so that you can switch to that course if you do not receive a sufficient grade for your retake. After this registration, please let the coordinator know that you also registered for another course in BC in light of your retake.