Admission requirements
This course is for MSc students in Biology.
Description
This course is about advanced cell biology. The course will cover 5 different topics which will all be introduced by one of the lecturers. The topics of this course are: Cytoskeleton, Energy, Cell cycle, Development and Membranes. Subsequently research papers about each topic are handed out for students to analyse in pairs.. Students will use paper they are given to write a short summary of what is new from this paper and the expert lecture compared to the book, a part of where the current research in this field stands, and what this paper has brought to the field, and finally write a proposal on how to continue the research.
Course Objectives
After completion of the course, students are able to:
Describe important concepts in cell biology (highlighted terms in the theoretical textbook (Alberts)) related to the topics Cytoskeleton, Energy, Cell Cycle, development and Membranes, and explain their contribution to the function, survival, and proliferation of cells.
Explain differences and similarities of these topics between the data described in the book and the data provided in the expert lectures and papers.
Explain the research questions, methodology, results and conclusions from the research presented in the expert lectures.
Apply this knowledge to analyze research papers on these topics and evaluate the research described in these papers.
Formulate the key hypothesis, summarize the results and the conclusions of the research papers, and discuss the state-of-the-art of the research field and the contribution to the field and possible research applications of the main findings.
Write a research proposal that combines book knowledge, expert lecture knowledge and knowledge about the paper
Critically review proposals and summarize comments in groups
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, self study, peer feedback
Assessment method
Research proposal (60%) and 4 reviews (10%)
Minimum grade:
Courses require a minimum, unrounded 5.5 grade to complete.
If a course has 2 or more written partial exams, the minimum grade only applies to the weighted average of the exams.
For partial grades from components other than exams (e.g. practicals, seminars, writing assignments), the bottom grade does apply to the individual components.
Please refer to the Student Charter for an overview of regulations.
Reading list
Compulsory book:
Molecular biology of the cell (6th or 7th edition)
Development (CH21)
Cytoskeleton (Ch16 p889-950)
Membranes (Ch10, P. 603-636)
Cell cycle/cell division (Ch17, P1027-1071)
Energy (Ch2)
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Coordinator: Dr. Ir. Joost Willemse
Email: willemsejj@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.