Actual course information
Up to date schedule information
Core course in MSc Chemistry – Chemical Biology, elective course MSc Chemistry
Description
The course introduces the students to the principles of cell biology.
The aims are:
1) To discuss the elementary building blocks of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell types. 2) The structure and functioning of the various plant and animal compartments and organelles such as nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, peroxisomes and lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum will be described. Protein sorting is one of the examples showing the interaction of various cellular organelles. 3) Visualization techniques of cellular components and cellular processes are extensively discussed. 4) Cell-cell interactions and communication as well as extensive signaling pathways are part of the course. 5) The cytoskeleton and cell cycle processes are given. 6) Antigen presentation and more general membrane-receptor aspects are discussed. 7) The meaning of protein degradation in normal cell functioning and diseases are given. 8) Cell proliferation and cell death processes in healthy and disease-related cells are discussed.
Literature
The book “Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition by Alberts et al. (ISBN: 978-0-8153-4106-2) will be used. Per lecture a recent scientific review related to a cell biology topic will be discussed.
Assessment method
Writing extended summaries of at least 4 lectures and writing 2 essays of 1500 words each are part of the course exam. Active presence during the lectures is requested.
Expected Background
NA