EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- ANNALAURA MANCIA
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/06
Training objectives
- This course focuses on an in-depth study of the biology of the cell of higher organisms. The main goal is to drive the students towards the understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of cellular differentiation and development through evolution leading to biodiversity.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The student:
- knows the evolution of the eukaryotic cell;
- knows the methodology to be applied to the study the eukaryotic cell;
- knows the process of cell differentiation and the main mechanisms in developmental biology;
- knows the characteristics and function of the stem cells and their therapeutic applications;
- knows the molecular biology of cancer: mechanisms, target and therapeutics;
- knows the mechanisms linking immunity and autoimmune diseases.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The student is able to:
- to understand the evolution of the eukaryotic cell;
- to understand the specific methodologies to study the biology of the cell in any environment;
- to understand the mechanisms of cell differentiation and the main mechanisms in developmental biology;
- to evaluate the unique characteristics of stem cells and how they can be applied to therapeutics;
- to understand basic mechanisms, epidemiology, immunology of cancer;
- to correlate immunity to the autoimmune diseases. Prerequisites
- No formal preparatory studies are mandatory. However, basic concepts and knowledge provided by the courses of Cytology and Histology, Comparative Anatomy, Biochemistry are needed.
Course programme
- IN THE FIRST PART (18 hours), after an introduction to the study of biology, the student will be guided through the main topics of cell biology and evolution.
In details:
-Biology: studying life.
-The working units of life.
-The cell theory.
-Molecules and the chemistry of life.
-Chemical and Biological evolution.
-The history of life on earth.
-Evidence and mechanisms of evolution. Origin of the species.
-Evolution of genes and genomes.
-Reconstructing and using phylogenesis; applications.
-The origin and diversification of Eukaryotes.
IN THE SECOND PART (30 hours), the student will be guided through the topics of the eukaryotic cell differentiation during development, with a particular focus on the diseases related to the abnormal process of cell proliferation and/or differentiation and potential therapeutic applications.
In details:
-Model Organisms.
-Introduction to developmental biology.
-Differential gene expression during development.
-Epigenetics and development.
-Stages in development.
-Postembryonic Development: Metamorphosis, Regeneration, and Aging
-Stem cells. Differentiation, origin, methods of collections for experimental and medical applications.
-Stem cells and therapeutic applications: past, present and future.
-Introduction to immunology and comparative immunology.
-Cell growth and cancer.
-Autoimmune diseases.
-Cell culture techniques and methods. Didactic methods
- The course forecasts 48 hours of frontal lectures. Topics will be discussed using references texts integrated with most recent published work. Lessons are provided on a weekly basis by taking advantage of power-point slides. Topics from text books will be integrated with latest and most relevant published data.
Learning assessment procedures
- A written test will verify the knowledge of the topics of the course. The test comprises 31 multiple-choice questions. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths. Each correct answer has a value of 1. To pass the test, the student needs to answer correctly at least 18 questions (minimum score 18/30). To obtain the maximum score (30 cum laude) the student needs to answer correctly to all the 31 questions. The student will have 30 minutes to complete the test.
The test could take place using online platform such as Google Meet. The written test will be carried out with the same procedures described above. The oral test will consist of 6 questions (with 0-5 score/answer).
For DSA students, the procedure and the duration of the test will be evaluated individually. Reference texts
- Teacher’s handouts.
Specific topics can be further developed in the following texts.
Principles of life. David M. Hillis, David Sadava, Craig H Heller, Mary V. Price.
Developmental Biology - Scott F. Gilbert. Ninth Edition.
Primer to the Immune Response - Tak W.Mak, Mary Saunders.
