Advanced Cell Biology

Since the discovery of how genetic information is, cell biology has gone through an unparalleled revolution that has yielded a much deeper understanding of how cells work. Novel methods of this revolution, including advanced microscopic techniques, transgenic cells and animals, and fluorescent labelling of proteins, enable us to observe and manipulate living phenomena at the molecular level, hence the name molecular biology. Building on concepts introduced in ‘Biology of the Cell’, student will learn about further topics from cell biology, including the control of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, cell communication, the genetic basis of evolution, mutations in health and disease, cellular energetics, molecular genetics and molecular oncology. Assessment is based on weekly assignments, which contain two types of questions: multiple choice questions, to check whether basic concepts are understood, and exercises that require a creative problem-solving attitude. In the latter case, students need to apply their knowledge, be able to find the relevant information in the sources and make their own research into the topic. In class, most time will be spent on discussing these problems.