English

BMB538: Cellular Identity (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01014201

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible

Email: ravnskjaer@bmb.sdu.dk

Email: larsgr@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable

Group	Type	Day	Time	Classroom	Weeks	Comment
Common	I	Tuesday	10-12	U30	39-41,43-46,48-49
Common	I	Wednesday	10-12	U43	47
H15	TE	Wednesday	10-12	U24	43
H15	TE	Thursday	14-16	*Odense Lokalitet aftales 7	38,45	SF H15 BMB538
H15	TE	Thursday	14-15	*Odense Lokalitet aftales 7	40,47	SF H15 BMB538
H15	TE	Thursday	16-17	*Odense Lokalitet aftales 7	49	SF H15 BMB538
H15	TE	Friday	12-14	U74	40-41,44-50

Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None, however, this course can only be taken if it:

is a constituent part of your programme
is a specified recommendation for elective ECTS in your programme
is part of a specified transitional arrangement ('overgangsordning') for a course you have not yet passed

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to meet the specified requirements for the study programme as well as the Molecular Biology Module of FF503, which must be attended in parallel.

Course introduction

The aim of the course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the molecular principles of cellular identity, diversity, and plasticity. The course will introduce technologies from biochemistry and molecular biology used to characterize, visualize, and screen for cellular identity. These include functional genomics, proteomics, and luminescence-based strategies. We will focus on select cell types residing in mammalian tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue as well as their molecular characterization.

The course will run in parallel with FF503 and specific molecular biology centric topics from FF503 will serve as basis for the course. The course will introduce recent, research-based literature, which will help the student to critically engage with research-based environments encountered the future.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

Provide competence to describe, reflect upon, and employ fundamental concepts within biochemistry and molecular biology
Provide skills, individually and in collaboration with fellow students, to acquire specialized knowledge of topics within biochemistry and molecular biology and to discuss these topics verbally and in writing.
Provide skills to critically evaluate research literature within biochemistry and molecular biology
Provide fundamental knowledge and understanding of cellular identity, diversity, and plasticity as well as current technologies in biochemistry and molecular biology for their study.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

Understand the fundamental principles of cellular identity
Understand the fundamental principles of multicellularity
Understand internal and external factors having impact on cellular identity in living organisms
Apply the central concepts; differentiation, trans-differentiation, as well as cellular plasticity
Provide examples of shifts in cellular identity observed during development, aging, and disease
State the most important functions of central cellular organelles
State central epigenetic principles with known importance to cellular differentiation
Account for the organisation of genes and genomes in multicellular organisms and understand the importance of this organisation for cellular identity and multicellularity.
Account for the molecular mechanisms underlying writing and reading of the epigenetic code
Account for the principles of functional genomic analysis
Understand methods for analysing RNA- and protein expression as well as genetic methods for the study of cellular identity
Account for the principles of luminescence-based techniques for investigation of cellular function and identity
Account for the principles of functional, cell-based screens
Understand and analyse current research literature within biochemistry and molecular biology

Subject overview

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Evolution and multi cellularity
Cellular architecture, structure, and basic functions
Cellular differentiation and specialization
Cellular plasticity, dedifferentiation, and transdifferentiation
Genome organisation and it's impact on cellular identity
Introduction to transcriptional regulation of cellular identity
Introduction to ‘omics’ for investigation of cellular identity
Introduction to functional genomics
Introduction to functional proteomics
Introduction to luminescence-based methods
Introduction to functional, cell-based screens
Introduction to experimental planning
Literature search for written assignment
Introduction to the analysis and presentation of research literature

Literature

Der er i øjeblikket ikke angivet nogle materialer for kurset.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None.

Assessment and marking:

Portfolio examination consisting of a written assignment (weight 40%) and a three hour written exam (weight 60%). All exam aids allowed. Pass/fail, internal marking. (5 ECTS). (01014202).

Form of evaluation at the re-examination may differ from the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 20 hours
Skills training phase: 20 hours, hereof:
- Tutorials: 20 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 85 hours
Educational form
Activities during the study phase:

Reading of course syllable
Completion of theoretical assignments
Written assignment in groups

Language
This course is taught in English, if international students participate. Otherwise the course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.