Cellular and Molecular Biology

ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

ACBB

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Class schedule
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

This teaching contributes to the learning objectives included into the Fundamental area of the Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology - Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare, providing knowledge and applicative abilities. Through the critical reading of cell biology scientific articles, students learn to address issues related to the biology of the cell and, in particular, cell communication and signal transduction. Cell-cell communication and interaction, with particular attention to the mechanisms and molecules involved in the regulation of attraction and repulsion, neuronal migration and axon pathfinding will also be addressed. Potential applications in the biomedical field will be also discussed. The main objective is to develop the ability to critically analyze and interpret the results of the recent scientific literature. For each item, students learn how to highlight the specific scientific question, to interpret data, to discuss the experimental approach.

Through a series of activities, students learn the experimental design to answer questions related to a scientific problem using gene expression constructs. Moreover, students acquire or consolidate practical skills that will be useful for their experimental activity in the thesis laboratory.

Results of learning outcomes

• Extending and applying knowledge of cell biology to new situations, interpreting and analysing information
• Critically analysing and interpreting scientific publications concerning cell biology topics
• Extending and applying cell biology and biotechnology knowledge to afford new scientific questions
• Selecting information from a variety of sources and presenting detailed information appropriately in a variety of forms
• Making reasoned predictions and generalizations from a range of evidence/information
• Drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
• Drawing on knowledge and understanding of cell biology to make accurate statements, describe complex information, provide detailed explanations and integrate knowledge
• Critically evaluating experimental procedures by identifying sources of error, suggesting and implementing improvements
• Communicating cell biology findings/information fully and effectively

• Planning cell biology and biotechnology experiments, to test hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects choosing the appropriate methodological approach that could be used to answer a specific scientific question
• Processing and analysing biological information (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)

Program

Different topics in cell biology and biotechnology will be addressed, utilizing scientific publications whenever possible, and discussing potential methods to study them. Each year, new topics replace older ones, with the new material added to the Moodle page. Additionally, experts in the field are invited to give lectures or seminars, which will also be included in the program and on the Moodle page.

Lectures focused on:
• Experimental design and controls
• Signal transduction pathways and signalling dynamics
• Cell-cell communication
• Axon pathfinding
• Cell migration
• Stem cells and differentiation
• Peripheral nerve regeneration
• Biosafety, Biosecurity, and dual use research

Biotechnology project laboratory focused on:
• Gene expression analysis (primers design, real-time PCR data analysis)
• Design of recombinant constructs (GFP- and FLAG-fusion proteins)
• Design of reactions (RT, PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, immunofluorescence analysis)
• Use of free web tools for lab activities

Other methods addressed during the lessons:
• Methods to analyse protein expression, post-translational modification, protein-protein interactions, protein mutations, protein stability and degradation, antibody production and possible applications, data analysis and interpretation.
• Gene delivery technologies for transient and stable transfection of eukaryotic cells, bacterial transformation, production of transgenic animals, knock-out, knock-in, conditional knock-out, cre-lox technique, inducible systems, siRNA, CRISPR-CAS9, optogenetics.

Course delivery

All lessons will be delivered IN PRESENCE subject to updates on the measures adopted by UniTo which can be found on the University portal under "Provisions for those who study and work at UniTo" (see https://en.unito.it/studying-unito).

Attendance is optional, though highly recommended; it will be monitored for statistical purposes. Slides, video and scientific papers will be available on the Moodle platform immediately after each lecture or activity.

The teaching is organized as follows:

Lectures (7 CFU, 56 hours, 28 sessions, 2 hours each). Emphasis will be given to the specific scientific question addressed, as compared to the status of art.  Experimental approaches and results will be deeply analysed. 

Students will be assigned specific readings and assignments that will then be discussed together.

Biotechnology project laboratory (2 CFU, 32 hours, 8 sessions, 4 hours each, for two groups, morning/afternoon, in a computer room). Students will perform the experimental design for the construction of plasmids and viral constructs aimed to express a recombinant protein, both wild-type, and fused with GFP or a FLAG. Students will do guided exercizes (primer design, calculation of the ingredients of a reaction, real time PCR raw data analysis, protein concentration evaluation).

Additional exercises and tests will be provided online on the Moodle platform. Students will be assigned specific assignments that will then be discussed together.

Learning assessment methods

Exams will take place exclusively IN PRESENCE subject to updates on the measures adopted by UniTo which can be found on the University portal under "Provisions for those who study and work at UniTo" (see https://en.unito.it/studying-unito).

Students must have an identification document with picture (University card is fine); they can bring a calculator, a paper sheet, a pen.

Midterm Multidisciplinary Test (MMT, optional) - This test will be in common with the courses of  Oncology and Molecular  Pathology, Cell Physiology, and Virology. It will be a Moodle-based test of 32 questions (8 for each course): 26 with a variety of formats (multiple choice, true/false, filling in checklists....) and four open questions. The optional midterm Multidisciplinary test will give rise to additional points to the final grade of final exam of each of the four courses, provided this will be passed in the first session (January-February 2025). Correspondence between Midterm Multidisciplinary Test vote and additional points for final exams is as follows: 22-23/32, 0.5 points; 24-25/32, 1 points; 26-27/32, 1.5 points; 28-30/32, 2 points. 

Multidisciplinary Research Essay (MRE, optional) - This at-home assignment will be in common with the courses of Oncology and Molecular Pathology, Cell Physiology, and Virology, and will refer to methodologies and technical approaches relevant to at least three of the four courses. The essay (up to 2000 characters + figures, tables and references) will be prepared by groups of normally three students and presented orally by the end of the semester. The optional Multidisciplinary Research Essay will give rise to additional points to the final grade of final exam of each of the three to four courses, provided this will be passed in the first exam session (January-February 2025). Correspondence between vote to the Multidisciplinary Research Essay and additional points for final exams is as follows: 22-23, 0.5 points; 24-25, 1 points; 26-27, 1.5 points; 28-30, 2 points. 

Final exam - Final exam includes a Moodle-based written test on a dedicated platform Students should verify, before the exam, that they have a working login and password (otherwise they cannot attend the exam).

The Moodle-based test will consist of 20-25 questions (total points: 32; time available: 90 minutes) with different formats: open questions, multiple choice quizzes, true/false, short answers, open-ended questions; interpretation of experimental data and resolution of exercises similar to those carried out in the Biotechnology project laboratory (it is therefore strongly suggested to attend the laboratory activity).

It is necessary to obtain at least 18/32 to pass the exam and to receive the MMT-MRE extra bonus. Any additional points obtained by MMT and MRE will be added to the final exam of the first exam session (January-February 2025 only). Honors (Cum Laude) may be attributed when the evaluation is ≥31/32. It is possible to reject a mark and attend a new exam session without penalty.

Academic conduct: the penalty for course-related dishonesty (i.e. cheating on exams, plagiarism, browsing other websites, using a mobile phone, and so on) will be failure for the entire course.

Support activities

Useful websites:

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ http://tools.neb.com/NEBcutter2/index.php
• http://www.bioinformatics.org/annhyb/

Students with disorders that may affect learning (eg students color blind, visually impaired, hearing impaired, dyslexic or with physical disabilities) are encouraged to contact the office for disability: https://en.unito.it/services/students-specific-learning-disability-sld and the teacher to adapt learning materials, activities and assessments.

• Supplemental journal articles and reviews will be assigned (see reading list on Moodle platform). 
• Material covered in lectures (pdf of lectures and integrative material) will be also published on Moodle platform immediately after each lecture or activity.

• To fill any gaps in students' background: Molecular Cell Biology (7 th edition) by Lodish et al. (2013) or Molecolar Biology of the Cell (6th edition) by Alberts et al. (2015).

Class schedule

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table