Cell Biology

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Credits
6
Types
Compulsory
Requirements
This subject has not requirements
Department
UPF
This course covers the basic principles of cell structure and function, mainly in and eukaryotic cells. Subjects include the cytoskeleton, the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix, transport, the nucleus, ER, Golgi apparatus, cell communication, stem cells, cell death, cancer and organization of tissues. The functioning of particular cell types will be addressed. The course will also emphasize methods for imaging cells and their components and the computational methods to perform data analysis of images. Integration of the physiological information as well as to reinforce the interest of the students in the use of bioinformatics applications as a necessary tool to approach complex biological and physiological process. The course will also introduce students to the basic principles of light microscopy and the quantitative analysis of fluorescence microscopy images and their application in the study of the cell's biology.

Teachers

Person in charge

  • Oriol Gallego Moli ( )

Others

  • Ricardo Ausencio Camacho Novoa ( )
  • Sébastien Tosi ( )
  • Xavier Sanjuan Samarra ( )

Weekly hours

Theory
1.8
Problems
1.4
Laboratory
0.8
Guided learning
0
Autonomous learning
6

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

  • K1 - Recognize the basic principles of biology, from cellular to organism scale, and how these are related to current knowledge in the fields of bioinformatics, data analysis, and machine learning; thus achieving an interdisciplinary vision with special emphasis on biomedical applications.
  • K6 - Recognize the ethical problems that arise from advances in the knowledge and in the application of biological concepts and their computational processing.

Skills

  • S6 - Identify and interpret relevant data, within the area of study, to make judgments that include social, scientific or ethical reflections.
  • S8 - Make decisions, and defend them with arguments, in the resolution of problems in the areas of biology, as well as, within the appropriate fields, health sciences, computer sciences and experimental sciences.
  • S9 - Exploit biological and biomedical information to transform it into knowledge; in particular, extract and analyze information from databases to solve new biological and biomedical problems.

Competences

  • C6 - Detect deficiencies in the own knowledge and overcome them through critical reflection and the choice of the best action to expand this knowledge.
  • C7 - Detect, from within the scope of the degree, inequalities based on sex and gender in society; integrate the different needs and preferences based on sex and gender in the design of solutions and problem solving.

Objectives

  1. Introduce the student into the world of Cellular Biology and Physiological phenomenon, to understand the inside world of cells and their organization of higher order systems.
    Related competences: K1, S6, S8, S9, C6,
  2. Teach to student the bases of basic research in cellular biology and help them reaching the correct conclusions from their experimental results.
    Related competences: K1, S6, S8, S9, C7, C6,
  3. To provide students the basic theoretical basic fundamentals, competences and practical skills that allow them to approach light microscopy imaging.
    Related competences: K1, K6, S6, S8, S9,

Contents

  1. BASICS OF EUKARYOTE CELL: FROM STRUCTURE TO ORGANIZATION
    Plasma membrane, transport and ECM. Cell adhesion, the cytoskeleton and the nucleus. The Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi. The nucleus and gene regulation. Cellular Communication between animal cells and particular pathways. Pluripotency, Stem Cells and Cancer. Cell death and senescence.
  2. Principles of light microscopy and image analysis in Cell biology
    Principles Microscopy I and II. Imaging subcellular structures I and II. Limit of Resolution.

Activities

Activity Evaluation act


Theoretical Lessons


Objectives: 1 2 3
Theory
23h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
42h

Seminars


Objectives: 1 2 3
Theory
0h
Problems
17h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
48h

Laboratory practicals


Objectives: 1 2 3
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
12h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0h

Cell Biology Integration of concepts


Objectives: 1 2
Week: 1
Theory
0h
Problems
3h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0h

Microscopy integration of concepts


Objectives: 2 3
Week: 1
Theory
1h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0h

Oral exam about the Macro


Objectives: 2 3
Week: 1
Theory
0h
Problems
1h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0h

Final exam


Objectives: 1 2 3
Week: 1
Theory
3h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0h

Teaching methodology

The methodology combines Theoretical lessons, Seminars (with 20-30 students in each group) and Laboratory Practicals (the class is divided in small groups). We will follow a continuous assessment through the delivery of group projects, oral presentations and other evaluations activities. Ultimately, the students knowledge and skills will be evaluated with a final exam.

Evaluation methodology

A series of exams are used to measure success in achieving the learning objectives of the course. To pass this subject, the student must pass with at least 5 points out of 10. All exams are mandatory, except for the Integration of concepts. In case of not attending an integration of concepts the student will be evaluated with a 0 for that (and only that) integration of concepts.

The final grade of the student will result from the sum of Cell Biology and Microscopy (up to 5 points) and Image Analysis (up to 5 points). Each grade will result from:

Cell Biology and Microscopy:
Integration of Concepts (20%)
Cell Biology and Microscopy Essay (40%)
Final Exam (PEM) (40%)

Image Analysis:
Group Macro (20%)
Oral Exam (70%)
Self-Assessment (10%)

Students who do not pass the final assessment have the option to recover their final exam grade at the February reassessment. Continuous assessment, including the Oral exam, cannot be recovered, under any circumstances. The student who recovers the final exam will maintain the same continuous assessment grade and this will be combined with the grade of the new final exam in the manner indicated above.

Bibliography

Basic:

Web links