Cellular and Molecular Biology

ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Academic year 2016/2017

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Program
• Suggested textbooks and readings
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

Through the critical reading of cell biology scientific articles, students learn to address issues related to the biology of the cell, and in particular, signal transduction and cross-talk receptor, intracellular transport, cell cycle regulation, autophagocytosis, cell-cell communication and interaction, with particular attention to the mechanisms and molecules involved in the regulation of attraction and repulsion, neuronal migration, axon pathfinding. 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 followed by the authors. Through a series of activities, students learn how to design and implement (in a virtual way) different gene expression constructs to answer questions related to a scientific problem.

Results of learning outcomes

Advanced cell biology

• Extending and applying knowledge of cell biology to new situations, interpreting and analysing information
• Selecting information from a variety of sources and presenting detailed information appropriately in a variety of forms
• Making reasoned predictions and generalisations 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
• Analysing and evaluating scientific publications and media reports

Biotechnology:

• Planning and designing biotechnological experiments/investigations, using reference materials, to test a hypothesis or to illustrate particular effects
• Processing and analysing biological information (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)

Course delivery

Lectures and tutorials 

Students will be assigned specific readings and online activities on moodle platform and will prepare a biotechnology project (mandatory) and a multidisciplinary research assay (optional). 

• Lectures : Emphasis is given to the specific scientific question addressed, as compared to the status of art.  Experimental approaches and results are deeply analysed. 
• Biotechnology project tutorial: Eight sessions in a computer room, students will perform the experimental design for the construction of several plasmids and viral constructs aimed to express a recombinant protein, both wild-type, and fused with GFP or a FLAG.
• Additional exercises and tests will be provided online on the Moodle platform.

Learning assessment methods

Examinations will be based on material covered in lectures, assigned readings, online and on site activities.

Midterm Multidisciplinary Test (MMT, optional) – This test will be in common with the courses of  Cell Physiology, and Virology. It will be a Moodle-based test of 30 questions (10 for each course): 27 with a variety of formats (multiple choice, true/false, filling in checklists....) and three open questions. The optional midterm Multidisciplinary test will give rise to additional points to the final grade of final exam of each of the three courses, provided this will be passed in the first session (January-February 2016). 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 Advanced Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cell Physiology, and Virology, and will refer to methodologies and technical approaches relevant to the three courses. The essay (up to 2000 characters + figures, tables and references) will be prepared by groups of normally three students and presented oraly 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 courses, provided this will be passed in the first exam session (January-February 2016). 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 – This exam will be a Moodle-based test of 20-25 questions with different formats : open question, 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 theoretical and practical cell biotechnology lessons (it is therefore  strongly suggested to attend the laboratory lessons). The maximum grade will be 32/30. Grading 31 and 32 will give rise to “ 30 cum laude”. Any additional points obtained by MMT and MRE will be added to the final exam of the first exam session (January-February 2016). 

Upon student’s request, an integrative final interview can be taken (written/oral: 1/1).

Academic conduct: The penality for course-related dishonesty (ei. cheating on exams, plagism, etc) 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/

Program

The main objective of the course is to convey to the students the ability to

1. analyze and interpret scientific papers concerning cell biology topics;
2. design constructs for the expression of recombinant proteins, taking into account all the necessary steps.

Topics:

• Advanced cell biology experimental approaches
• Cell transduction pathways
• Cell comunication
• Stem cells and differentiation
• Cell migration and adhesion
• Axon pathfinding and analysis methods

• Molecular Cell Biology (7 th edition) by Lodish et al. (2013) or Molecolar Biology of the Cell (6th edition) by Alberts et al. (2015).
• Any article from the “News and Views”, and “Perspectives” section of Nature and Science from Aug. to Dic., 2015). Supplemental journal articles and reviews will be assigned for each topic (see reading list on Moodle platform). 
• Material covered in lectures (pdf of lectures and integrative material) is also published on Moodle platform. 

Class schedule

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums