84281 - Stem Cell Biology

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Docente: Anna Rita Franco Migliaccio
  • Credits: 1
  • SSD: BIO/17
  • Language: English
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 9210)

Learning outcomes

Describe basic concepts in stem cell biology, including origin and plasticity. Differentiate between embryonic and adult stem cells, and describe their characteristics. Define the molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation. Discuss potential applications of stem cells in regenerative medicine.

Course contents

PROGRAM

Morphological and functional definition of a stem cell.

Tissue specific stem cells: The hematopoietic stem cell. 

The cellular hierarchy of the hematopoietic system.     

The differentiation of the hematioietic stem cell: Commitment and terminal maturation. 

The extrinsic control of the differentiation process: the growth factors.

The intrinsic control of hematopoietic differentiation: epigenomic and transcription factor control. 

Major biochemical changes in the hematopoietic stem cell compartments during the ontogenesis and with aging. 

Other tissue specific stem cell of clinical interest.

Tissue replacement and tissue regeneration therapy.

Readings/Bibliography

The students will be strongly encouraged to take an independent approach to learning. They will be advaiced to adopt any international textbook in English available on-line. They will also be guided toward a critical use of internet-assisted documentation and histological archives of italian universities.

Teaching methods

A combination of frontal lessons and lessons inter-pares on specific arguments. The acquisition of the knowledge will be frequently monitored with oral and written tests

Assessment methods

The students will be evaluated on the basis of the frequency and most importantly active participation to the questions/answers time after each lessons. 

At the end of the teaching course, students will be required to participate in an oral question/answer time on all the program during which the learning skills acquired during the lessons by the individual students will be evaluated and the scores disclosed. This question/time oral exam will be chaired by Profs. Migliaccio and Lauriola.

The students will be scored as described below: Students who meet the frequency requirement will be admitted to the oral exams. Students who demonstrate active participation during all the duration with the course will be evaluated in the range 18/30 to 30/30, depending on the fluency on all the argument of the program demonstrated during the oral exam. Students who demonstrate particular passion and competence for the subject of the course will be recognized with the laud.

Teaching tools

Selected meritorious slides presentations on specific subjects prepared by students of previous academic years that will be posted on line

Office hours

See the website of Anna Rita Franco Migliaccio