Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Cell Biology I
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Students can ask any question regarding the course and the content, or set an appointment with the coordinator or directly with any of the teachers, via the email.
Teaching staff:
- Course coordinator, magisterial classes, case methods: Miquel Bosch: miquelbosch@uic.es
- Magisterial classes on development: Francisco Miguel Torres: fmtorres@uic.es
- Case methods: Toni Parcerisas: aparcerisas@uic.cat
- Laboratory teacher: Sara Plutta: skplutta@uic.es
Introduction
The cell is the basic functional unit of all living beings. Cell biology is responsible for the study of cells and their properties: their structure, their functions, their composition, heir life cycle, and their interaction with the environment and with other cells in the development of multicellular tissues. This course is complemented with the knowledge from the areas of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Histology and Physiology.
Pre-course requirements
Previous scientific training (highschool level), including:
- Knowledge of the bases of biochemistry (types of biological molecules, -DNA, RNA, proteis, etc.-, and their basic regulation and structure).
- Knowledge about the basic processes of biological regulation (transcription, translation, etc.).
- Knowledge about the chemical and physical bases of life (concept of pH, concentration gradients, etc.).
Objectives
- Identify cellular structures, cellular organelles and know their function and biological relevance.
- Understand the general intra and extracellular communication processes.
- Understand the concept of cell cycle and its regulation.
- Understand the fundamentals of cell regulation at the organizational level in organs and tissues, homeostasis, cell renewal and pluri- and multipotency.
- Understand the process of gametogenesis, meiosis and fecundation, at the cellular level.
- Explain the process of embryo formation and the early stages of human embryonic development at the cellular level.
- Understand and assess the applicability of cellular models in biomedicine.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- Identify cellular structures, cellular organelles and know their function and biological relevance.
- Understand the general intra and extracellular communication processes.
- Understand the concept of cell cycle and its regulation.
- Understand the fundamentals of cell regulation at the organizational level in organs and tissues, homeostasis, cell renewal and pluri- and multipotency.
- Understand the process of gametogenesis, meiosis and fecundation. Explain the process of embryo formation and the early stages of human embryonic development at the cellular level.
- Understand and assess the applicability of cellular models in biomedicine.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Know the structure and composition of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
- Knows the structure and function of animal cells, and acquires an integrated view at the molecular, structural and functional levels of cellular structures.
- Understand and properly use scientific terminology and concepts used in the field of cell biology.
- Search, organize and effectively communicate scientific information.
- Develop a critical spirit.
- Train the ability to discuss complex concepts and present hypotheses.
Syllabus
- Unit 1 - Introduction to Cellular Biology. Scientific method.
- Unit 2 - The cell. Universal features. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Case method 1 - Cell evolution. Viruses and extraterrestrial life.
- Unit 3 - Plasma membrane. Lipids and membrane proteins
- Unit 4 - Transmembrane transport. Transporters and channels.
- Case method 2 - Problems on transmembrane transport.
- Unit 5 - Endomembranes I. Endoplasmic reticulum.
- Case method 3 - Nucleus. Membrane and nuclear transport. Nucleolus
- Unit 6 - Endomembranes II. Golgi. Vesicular transport. Endo-exocytosis.
- Case method 4 - Coronavirus. mRNA-based vaccines.
- Unit 7 - Bioenergetics: mitochondria, peroxisomes.
- Case method 5 - Problems on protein transport.
- Unit 8 - Intracellular signaling. Receptors, ligands. Signaling pathways.
- Case method 6 - Problems on intracellular signaling.
- Unit 9 - The cell cycle.
- Case method 7 - Cytoskeleton.
- Unit 10 - Embryonic development I.
- Case method 8 - Cell junctions.
- Unit 11 - Embryonic development II.
- Case method 9 - Meiosis. Germ cells and fertilization.
- Unit 12 - Differentiated cells and tissue maintenance.
- Case method 10 - Cell Death. Apoptosis
- Unit 13 - Cell-based therapies.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
- Lecture class
- Team work
- Individual work
- Debate
- Public presentation
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Students in first call:
- 20% Midterm exam.
- 15% Laboratory sessions participation, attitude, and laboratory test.
- 20% Preparation, participation and attitude in case methods. The score will be the average of each session and/or each submitted work.
- 45% Final exam.
- Up to 0.5 additional points in case of an excellent participation and attitude in magisterial lectures, case methods or lab sessions (contribution of interesting ideas or posing of pertinent questions that help to improve the quality of the session).
Students in second call: will do an exam in July that will count 65% of the final grade and that will average with the grade of laboratory sessions (15%), and preparation of the case methods (20%) obtained in the first call. Midterm exam will not be taken into account (unless the student requests it).
Students with two or more than two deadlines: they will do the final exam of each call that will count 65% of the final grade and that will averaged with the laboratory sesions grade (15%), and preparation of the case methods (20%) obtained in the first announcement. Whenever they wish, the students can repeat the attendance to the laboratory practices and case methods to obtain a new grade; in this case, the student must comunicate it to the coordinator in advance.
Important points to keep in mind regarding attendance:
1) Attendance to laboratory practices is mandatory. In case the student cannot attend a given session, a justification must be sent to the course coordinator in advance. Non-justified non-attendance means an automatic failure of the course.
2) Attendance to magistral lectures is not mandatory, but advisable.
3) Atendance to case methods is not mandatory, but higly advisable. In case the student cannot attend a given session, a justification should be sent to the course coordinator in advance. Non-justified non-attendance will result in a zero in the evaluation of that specific session, which will be averaged with the rest of the sessions.
Important points to keep in mind regarding evaluation:
1) To pass the course, it is necessary to meet these two conditions: a minimum grade of 5.0 must be obtained in the final course grade, and a minimum grade of 5.0 must be obtained in the final exam.
2) The exams will be a combination of questions with short written answers, and test type questions (with 4 answer options, the correct anwer counting +1 points, the incorrect answers counting -0.33 point, and the no-answer counting 0 points).
Bibliography and resources
In english:
- Alberts B. et al., Essential Cell Biology. Fourth edition (2013), or fifth edition (2018). Garland Science.
- Alberts B, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th edition. Garland Science, 2015.
- Lodish H, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 7th edition Macmillan Learning, 2013 (8th edition, 2016).
En español:
- Alberts B. et al., Introducción a la Biología Celular, 3ª edición, Editorial Médica Panamericana SA, 2011
- Alberts, B et al. Biología Molecular de la Célula. 6ª edición. Ediciones Omega 2016.
- Lodish et al. Biología Celular y Molecular. 7ª edición. Editorial Médica Panamericana S.A. 2016.
Evaluation period
- E1 17/01/2021 A08 14:00h