Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Cell Biology
Other languages of instruction: English
Teaching staff
• Coordinator: Dra Rut Fadó Andrés rfado@uic.es
• Lecturers professors (CM): Cat. Martí Aldea, Cat. Jaume Reventós and Dra Rut Fadó
• Divided groups professors: Dra. Rut Fadó
• Congress Project professor: Dr. Víctor Giménez
• Online autolearning activities professor: Dra. Rut Fadó
Schedule a meeting by email
Introduction
The subject of Cellular Biology is studied during the first semester of second year of Medicine, corresponding to a pre-clinical period, where the student has already acquired a basic knowledge of the composition and structure of macromolecules, the structural and functional organization of the cells in subjects of the first year like Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
At this point, this subject aims to expand the student's knowledge on cellular physiology, particularly in relation to the regulation of: the extra-and intracellular communication, cell cycle, cancer biology, developmental biology, cell death and specific functions of certain cell types, which together, provide to the student a good understanding of the structural and functional organization of the human body in normal and pathological situation.
In addition to the theoretical knowledge acquired in Cell Biology, this course is completed with practical training, as seminars and paper presentations, which allow to introduce students into the techniques, terminology and therapeutic approaches used in top level scientific research.
The coordinator of the subject is Dr Rut Fadó
The majority vehicular languages: Catalan, Spanish and English
Pre-course requirements
To guarantee a good follow up and acquisition of the objectives is essential that students have knowledge or be enrrolled in:
- Biochemistry
- Introduction to Medical Genetics
- Molecular biology
Furthermore, it is desirable that students have a good knowledge of English because many of the information sources are in this language.
Objectives
Show and providing the necessary tools to the students to understand and use in the future the theoretical content about: extra and intracellular communication, cellular cycle, cancer, the processes of mitosis, meiosis, gametogenesis and fertilization; the early stages of embryonic development at cellular level, cell death and neurodegeneration.
Show and providing the necessary tools to the students, through group work and seminars, to find, understand and communicate effectively structural and functional cellular mechanisms in relation to diseases, disorders and / or therapeutic strategies.
Providing the necessary tools to the students, through group work and supervised sessions, to understand, interpret and effectively communicate knowledge from scientific articles in top-level of Cellular Biology, get your own conclusions and form critical reasoning.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 05 - Recognize own limitations and the need to maintain and upgrade professional skills, with particular emphasis on autonomous learning of new knowledge and skills and motivation for quality.
- 07 - Understand and recognise normal structure and function of the human body at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ and systemetic levels, at different stages of life and in both sexes.
- 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
- 11 - Understand and recognize the effects of growth, development and aging on the individual and their social environment.
- 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
- 23 - Communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing with patients, family members, media and other professionals.
- 37 - Acquire basic training for research.
- CB-1 - To have acquired advanced knowledge and demonstrated, within the context of highly specialised scientific and technological research, detailed comprehension based on theoretical and practical aspects and a working methodology from one or more fields of study.
- CB-2 - To know how to apply and incorporate knowledge, an understanding of it and its scientific basis and the ability to solve problems in new and loosely defined environments, including multidisciplinary contexts that include both researchers and highly specialised professionals.
- CB-5 - To transmit in a clear and unambiguous way to a specialised or non-specialised audience, the results of scientific and technological research projects and innovation from the field of the most advanced innovation, as well as the most important concepts which they are based on.
- CTP-3 - To develop critical thinking and reasoning as well as self-assessment skills.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Knowledge:
1. Identify the main mechanisms of cellular communication and signal transduction pathways by analyzing the molecular components involved and their interrelationships, in order to understand how communication between cells occurs, how it is altered in different pathologies, and which elements may become therapeutic targets.
2. Describe the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation, including checkpoints and their involvement in tumor transformation, to understand the cellular and molecular bases of cancer development, as well as current and emerging therapeutic strategies.
3. Explain the process of embryo formation and the early stages of human embryonic development at the cellular and molecular levels.
4. Explain the processes of cell death and aging, to establish connections with pathologies associated with a deficit or excess of cell death and relate them to their biomedical implications and applications.
Skills:
5. Apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations through the resolution of clinical cases and the justification of therapeutic strategies, in order to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and decision-making in biomedical contexts.
6. Interpret information from various sources using teaching materials, digital tools, and up-to-date scientific literature, to promote autonomous, rigorous, and meaningful learning.
7. Synthesize acquired knowledge through active participation in seminars and team work sessions, to encourage the exchange of knowledge in an environment of respect, collaboration, and shared learning among professionals.
Competencies:
8. Examine recent scientific articles related to pathological situations or emerging therapeutic strategies by comparing experimental data, to interpret biomedical information in a well-founded manner and develop evidence-based scientific reasoning.
9. Communicate previous results and ideas clearly and effectively through poster presentations and oral communications in a simulated conference, to improve written and oral expression, facilitate the transmission of new knowledge, and contribute to keeping clinical practice up to date through biomedical research.
Syllabus
The subject of Cellular Biology is divided into 5 distributive blocks:
Block 1: Extra and intracellular communication
Communication between cells
Ligand-Receptor
Signaling pathways activate by GPCR
Signaling pathways activate by TRK and associated to TRK
Other signaling pathways
Block 2. Early embrionic developmental biology
General characteristics
Gametogenesis
From zygot to gastrula
From gastrula to fetus
Block 3. Cell death and degeneration
Cell Death
Apoptosis
Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer
Block 4: Cell Cycle and Cancer Biology
Cell cycle entry: from Michaelis-Menten to molecular switches
Mitosis, cell-cycle exit and cell fates
Cancer biology I
Cancer biology II
Cancer biology III
Congress of Cellular Biology
Epigenetic treatments in cancer. Opening lecture, Workshop, Poster session, Oral communications and Plenary lecture
Cases in divided groups
Feeding the brain. Retinitis pigmentosa. EDCs. Prions. IVF. Alterations in BRCA1. Aging. Cancer and immunotherapy. Regeneration. Edition with CRISPR. Drug delivery and bio-conjugation. Obesity. The last of us. Rare genetic diseases. AI. Sleep disorders.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
1) Lectures (CM): 40 hours face-to-face + 80 hours no presential
The content is theoretical.
They are complemented by exercises and self-learning material posted in the Moodle space.
They are worked during the course in a single group.
2) Clinical cases and Problem-based Learning (GD): 32 hours face-to-face + 20 hours no presential
The contents are practical and relate cellular processes explained in the lectures with pathologies and / or therapeutic strategies.
It consists of working on a case proposed by the teacher (available in the Moodle space). In flipped classrooms, the student presents the subject proposed by the teacher in small groups in the form of a seminar (with the bibliography recommended, available in the Moodle space) and discusses with the other classmates the results of this activity. The most significant learnings are brought together at the end.
3) Congress of Cellular Biology: 8 hours face-to-face + 12 hours no presential
It consists of working on a current topic of cell biology in a conference format, with scientific articles, tutored sessions, a poster session, oral communications and a plenary lecture.
A research article (available in Moodle) is proposed to be presented in a poster format (all groups) and in oral communication format (3 groups).
The teaching material will be delivered mainly in the English language.
4) Online self-learning: 8 hours no presential
Problems and exercises in each session.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
20% Continuous evaluation
40% Final exam
20% Congress
20% Cases
+ 10% extra (Congress' extra grade and face-to-face exercises)
The exam consist of, at least, 2 questions per lecture, cases or Congress; divided in one part with multiple choice questions, 4 answer options and only one correct one (the correct sum + 1 and the remaining errors -0.33); and other part with other type of questions (match, short questions, etc). 10% of the questions may be based on concepts not explained in class but present in the material available in Moodle.
The attendance to the poster’s tutoring sessions is mandatory. Up to 0.5 points on the Congress’ grade can be added to the students that ask a question during the plenary session. Up to 0.5 points on the final grade of the subject can be added to the students of the 3 best groups of posters.
To obtain the final grade, you need at least 5 points in the learning activities, except in continuous evalution. To be eligible for honors, it is necessary to obtain a final grade of more than 9 in the first call.
2nd sitting:
60% Final exam
20% Congress
20% Cases
The grades of cases and Congress, once passed, can be applied in future calls.
Bibliography and resources
- Alberts B, et al. Molecular Biology of the cell. Garland Science
- Lodish H, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. Macmillan Learning
- Nelson DL, Cox MM. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. Macmillan Learning
- Sadler TW, Langman, embriología médica. Wolters Kluwer
- Carlson BM, Human Embryology and Developmental Biology. Elsevier/Saunders