BMB813: Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Cell Signalling and Cell Differentiation (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01015401

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: bab@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable
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Comment:
Kurset er designet til specialestuderende. Minimum 10 studerende er nødvendig for afholdelse af kurset. Kurset er begrænset til 18 deltagere.

Prerequisites:
A Bachelor’s degree in BMB, Biomedicine or equivalent study programme.

Academic preconditions:
Academic preconditions. Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of protein chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, e.g. as taught in the courses Protein Chemistry (BMB533), Advanced Molecular Biology (BMB508) and Metabolic and Hormonal regulation (BMB536)

Course introduction
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the signalling events that underlie eukaryote cell function and fate, including the principles of stem cell differentiation involving various signalling networks.

This is important in regard to obtaining deeper knowledge in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology and their interfaces to health science, e.g. how dysfunctional signalling processes and mechanisms are involved in human diseases.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses Protein Chemistry (BMB533), Advanced Molecular Biology (BMB508) and Metabolic and Hormonal regulation (BMB505) and provides an academic basis for performing Master´s project at BMB in the research areas listed above.

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

• Give the competence and skills to analyse and evaluate primary research in the fields of eukaryotic cell signalling and stem cell differentiation through critical reviewing of original articles.
• Give skills to communicate research based knowledge, to identify and discuss scientific problems.
• Give knowledge and understanding of: (i) the mechanisms by which extracellular signals are transmitted to cells and exert their specific effects; (ii) the experimental approaches that are being used in the corresponding research areas.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Identify and analyse links within signalling networks; across hormones, receptors, kinases, transcription factors and other signal transducers.
• Analyse and evaluate primary research results and summarise in an oral and written presentation.
• Assess and reflect on the use of methods and relevant model systems to study specific biological problems. 
• Define own theories, hypotheses and experimental approaches for addressing specific biological questions in eukaryotic cell signalling and differentiation areas.

Subject overview


Literature

• Harvey Lodish: Molecular Cell Biology, W.H. Freeman.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Presentation and discussion of research papers, formulation and elucidation of scientific questions (tutorials). Internal marking by teacher, pass/fail. (01015412).

Assessment and marking:

1. Individual assignment (written report) Internal marking by teacher, pass/fail.(5 ECTS).  (01015402).

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 12 hours
Skills training phase: 24 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 14 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 10 hours

Educational activities

• Individual activity – reading scientific literature, including primary research articles and reviews.
• Individual activity – writing short report on specific research topic in form of small literature review/discussion. 
• Group activities – presentation and discussion of research articles, formulation and elucidation of scientific questions.

Educational form
The intro phase consists of lectures which provide an overview of the topics covered at  the course. Students are expected to independently read prescribed text (preliminary review articles) to achieve the expected competencies and necessary overview. The skills training phase deals with the central parts of the course using theoretical exercises and students presentations on primary research articles related to the topics covered in the lectures during the intro fase . The tutorials are based on prior independent work as well work in groups.

The training phase also includes laboratory exercises in which students work in groups with practical exercises with biochemical/molecular biology techniques commonly used to study cell signaling like SDS-PAGE, Immunoprecipitation, Western blotting.

The study phase is partly preparation for the intro lectures, tutorials and laboratory exercises as well as preparation of exam reports. There are 90 hours allocated to the study phase, including project supervision hours by the teachers.

Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
The course has limited entry. The following 4 criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.

1. Students with the most ECTS from their master
2. Students who are accepted conditionally on the master 
3. Students who follows master courses concurrent with their bachelor programme
4. Bachelor students

If the score is even lots are drawn.

The academic enviroments at The faculty of science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then be made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.

In order to keep the assigned seat you need to attend the first course day or notify the teacher, otherwise the seat is given to the next student from the waiting list.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
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