Biointerfaces in living systems

Course Code: BM713E

Institution:

Biomedical Science

Revision:

1

For students admitted fall 2013   fall 2012  

Approval

The course was established 22 November 2006.
This course syllabus (version 1) was approved 15 March 2012 by the Faculty Board of Health and Society .
The syllabus is valid from 03 September 2012.

Education level

Second cycle

Course description

The aim of the course is to enable the students to acquire knowledge about Cell Biology, with emphasis on different cell membranes, to understand and to learn how to work with different applications of biological interfaces in research and development as well as in the Biomedical and Biotech Industry.

Advancement in relation to the degree requirements

The course is mandatory and is given in the first semester of the Master Programme Biomedical Methods and Technology. The course can also be taken as a freestanding course.

Entry requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree (180 hp) or equivalent with a major in chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical technology, biomedical methods and technology, biomedical laboratory science or in other areas of natural, medical, engineering sciences or technology with a minimum of 15 hp in chemistry and/or biochemistry.
2.The equivalent of English B in Swedish secondary school.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student should be able to
- describe the constitution of different membranes of the eukaryotic cell,
- explain how molecules can be transported across different membranes in the cell and also how micro domains arise in the cell membrane and which functions they have,
- account for how signals from the environment outside the cell will be transported into the cell and how it influences the intracellular consequences,
- explain how cells can adhere to different surfaces, extra cellular matrix and to each other, and also how the affinity of the molecules that control these events will be regulated,
- identify mechanisms of Exocytosis, and
- apply methods to study cell membrane and membrane fractions of a cell, methods to study interactions between proteins and localization of a protein in a cell.

Assessments

To pass the following is required: approved reports, seminars and passed examination.

The course content is graded as follows:
A - Excellent
B - Very Good
C - Good
D - Satisfactory
E - Pass
U - Fail

Examination Re-sits
Students who fail examinations have two further opportunities to retakes. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to retake these examinations during the course to avoid subsequent interruption to follow on courses. If the course ceases or goes through major changes, students retain the right to two retake within one year based on the original course content. Examinations and retakes are scheduled throughout the course timetable.

Course content

The course is an advanced course in cell biology which will give both theoretical and practical tools to understand different applications of biological interfaces in research and development and in the development in the biomedical and biotech industry. The course will describe constructions and functions of the cell membrane in eukaryotic cells, and also constructions of other membranes in the cell, like the membranes of the nucleus and cell organelles. Important functional differences in the membrane built-ups will be discussed. Furthermore, the transportation of molecules across the cell membranes as well as cell surface receptors will be described. In addition, cell signalling and micro domains will be debated. The most common paths of signalling and what happens to molecules interacting with each other will be discussed, as well as cell adhesion, functions of molecules involved in cell adhesion, cell-to cell contact and cell junctions, different mechanisms of Endocytosis and Exocytosis. Several cell biological methods will be introduced like various techniques to study cell membranes by a microscope. Methods to study proteins will also be introduced, like isolation of proteins from various parts of the cell, characterization of protein interactions and protein localizations.

Learning activities

The course is based on active participation of the students. A variety of methods, including interactive lectures and discussions, journal clubs, laboratory experiments, individual studies and an individual project will be utilized for the purpose of achieving the course objectives.

Grading system

A,B,C,D,E,U.

Reading list and other media

Cooper, G. M, Hausman, R. E. (2006) The Cell: A Molecular Approach, 4th edition. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, Inc., pp. 745.

Scientific articles will be added.

Course evaluation

A comprehensive course evaluation is carried out at the end of the course. The students are asked to evaluate the quality of the course based on the learning outcomes and how these have been realized. The course coordinator discusses the evaluation results with the students at a pre-announced occasion. The evaluation is subsequently summarized and published on the course website. The evaluation is also discussed the next time the course is given.