22/2 – Biology of the Cell

Every living organism is constituted by cells. Behind the spectacular variation in size, organisation and appearance are fundamental similarities at the molecular level. Separated by a billion years of evolution, cell cycle regulators isolated from yeast work perfectly well in human cells. Scientists observe and manipulate cells with experimental techniques such as gel electrophoresis, nucleotide and protein blotting, immunohistochemistry, nucleotide sequencing, recombinant DNA methods, fluorescent proteins and microscopy. The collected evidence is made sense of in the conceptual framework of molecular biology, centred around the information flow from DNA to RNA to proteins. The course looks into foundational topics of the cellular phenomenon, such as the organisation of cells, membranes, the cytoskeleton, the cell division cycle, transcription and translation. Biology of the Cell provides strong foundations for life science university applications and understanding current topics such as genetic engineering or personalised medicine. Students will learn to navigate the molecular mechanisms of life in an inquiry-based approach, focusing on the ways in which scientific evidence is generated and evaluated.