Admission requirements
Advice: the Cell Biology course (second year), elementary knowledge of Cell Signaling and Molecular Biology.
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. B. Ewa Snaar-Jagalska
Email: b.e.snaar-jagalska@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Description
The aim of this course is to get a good understanding of the molecular mechanisms of human disease, in particular cancer (oncogenes, tumor suppressors, chromosomal abbreviations and genome instability), infectious disease (tuberculosis, Salmonella infection), diabetes, neuronal-stress disorders, developmental disorders and ageing.
Learning goals
Course objectives:
The goal of this course is to generate a good knowledge on the cell-cell communication, how the signal transduction events underlie various pathological processes and how this knowledge can be applied to develop better treatment strategies of human diseases.
The lectures will be given by the experts from the field providing excellent knowledge from the lab table but also giving opportunity to learn the topography of scientific research in the Netherlands.
Final qualifications:
Students will improve their skills concerning the literature study, understanding of challenging lectures on the modern scientific topics, comparing and executing them to own knowledge, writing short assessments based on the own study, formulating scientific questions, discussing and presenting their knowledge in the group.
Timetable
28 October 2013 – 22 November 2013, the detailed timetable will be published on Blackboard.
The lectures will be given mostly in the morning and the afternoons are meant for self-study on a daily basis. In the last week of the course students will give their own presentation on a chosen topic and prepare for the examination. Participation in lectures is obligatory and this is a full time course.
Total number of contact hours
Total 56h: lectures and tutorials 42h, work group 10h, examination 4h.
Mode of instruction
A series of obligatory lectures provided by invited specialist speakers will be combined with own literature self-study. The students will have to write a short summary on the topic of the lecture before and subsequently formulate a few questions after the lectures.
Assessment method
PowerPoint presentation.
Written examination requesting knowledge of lectures and the following pages from Alberts: 831-889, 907-929, 1340-1361, and 1453-1462.
Grade will be calculated as 70% examination (min 5 is obligatory) plus 30% power point presentation and other tasks
Blackboard
The course information, time table and study material will be available via Blackboard.
Reading list
Lectures and Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition 2002, Garland Science NY and additional literature required for the lectures and own power point presentation on a chosen topic.
Registration
Via USIS and enroll in Blackboard
Exchange and Study Abroad students please see the Prospective students website for more information on how to apply.
Remarks
Course can be followed by Biology MSc and by LST, BFW, BMW MSc students, but please realize this is a difficult course asking your interest and commitment.