Course content

The teaching is given as lectures and colloquiums / seminars and requires some self-study. The purpose of the course is to give the students a molecular understanding of cell biological mechanisms and their regulation. Topics that will be included in the course will be: Mechanisms for regulating gene expression, signal transduction, cytoskeleton and cell movement, cell cycle, apoptosis, cancer and processes that regulate the development of multicellular organisms. The course is obligatory for students on the master programme for cell and molecular biology, and students on the master programme for cell biology for medical technical staff.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• After completing the course, students should have advanced knowledge and be able to:
• explain mechanisms that regulate gene expression
• explain mechanisms for cellular communication.
• describe the structure of the cytoskeleton and how it affects cellular behavior
• explain how cell cycle control systems are correlated with the different phases of cell cycle
• describe cellular mechanisms that regulate cell death and apoptosis
• explain how interactions between extracellular matrix and cell-cell junctions determine cell migration and cell signaling
• describe molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development
• explain how cellular processes that are essential in the development of multicellular organisms operate at the molecular level.

Skills:

• Students will know and be able to use relevant methods and techniques in cell and molecular biology research in and independent way.
• Students will be able to analyze existing theories and methods in cell and molecular biology and work independently on practical and theoretical problem solving.
• Students will have the capacity to use their knowledge of cellular processes to analyze and integrate new facts, information and research results into new research hypotheses.

General competence:

• Students will have enough advanced skills to translate a biological question into the design of an experiment.
• Students will be able to communicate about academic issues, analyzes and results in cell and molecular biology with both specialists and the general public.

Learning methods and activities

• Lectures: 26 hours
• Seminar: 24 hours, mandatory

In order to have the attendance approved, the student must have attended at least 9 of the 12 compulsory seminars.

Examinations can be held orally outside teaching semester

Compulsory assignments

• Compulsory attendance in seminars

Recommended previous knowledge

The student should have basic background knowledge from cell and molecular biology or biochemistry courses at undergraduate / bachelor level.

Course materials

Textbook: "Molecular biology of the cell", 6th edition, Alberts et al. (2015). ISBN: 9780815344643 Selected research and review articles related to the curriculum.

Credit reductions