04662 - Cell Biology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student knows: - the concept of cell theory; - what the basic structure of the eukaryotic cell and the prokaryotic cell is; - what functions are related to individual structures or complexes of structures; - what the basic mechanisms of the regulation of eukaryotic cell activities are (gene regulation, protein synthesis, motility, communication, differentiation and integration, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis). In particular, the student knows: - how to use university texts, suggested web pages and additional material provided by the lecturer to study and explore topics relating to cell biology; - how to frame his or her knowledge of cell biology in such a way that it can serve as a basis for the subsequent study of molecular biology. The student is also able to - use an optical microscope and recognise different types of eukaryotic cells, mitosis and apoptosis; - apply some laboratory procedures, including how to enrich and purify different organelles and some reactions and staining for their identification.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Course contents

- The eukaryotic cell: structure and function of cell organels. Differences with the prokaryotic cell.

- The structural macromolecules of the cell

- The cytoskeleton and cell motility.

- The cell surface, cell-to-cell interactions.

- The nucleus. DNA replication and Mitosis

- Cell cycle and its regulation. Apoptosis.

- Genetic information and how it is utilized in the cell.

- Membrane transport, Endoplasmic reticulm, the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes.

- Mitochondria, energy and metabolism.

- Cell regulation and communication. Signals and their transduction.

- Structure and function of some specialized cells: epithelial cells, nerve cells, muscle skeletal cells.

 

During the laboratory course, the student will acquire competences: how to behave in a safe way in a laboratory; how to prepare acqueus solutions (including the necessary calculations); how to use the basic instruments of a biology lab, such as micropipettes, scales, centrifuges, spectrophotometer, optical microscopes (including phase contrast microscope), how to prepare blood slides (including blood smearing and staining); how to carry out simple experiments on osmosis, the preparation of density gradients and their use in the isolation of blood cells, cell counting, the separation of cellular organels and enzymatic assays.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas]] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme

Limitations connected to SARS COV2 pandemic may modify the practical activities.

Readings/Bibliography

Any of the following texts is adequate to deepen the fundamental concepts explained in class:

- Becker, Kleinsmith, Hardin, Bertoni Il mondo della cellula ed PEARSON;

- Plopper Principi di Biologia della cellula ed Zanichelli

- Lewin, Cassimeris, Lingappa, Plopper, Cellule, ed Zanichelli;

- Karp Biologia cellulare e molecolare ed EDISES;

- De Leo, Ginelli, Fasano; Biologia e genetica ed EdiSES

- Pollard, Earnshaw, Biologia Cellulare, ed. Elsevier, Masson;

- Cooper Hausmann La cellula: un approccio molecolare ed Piccin;

Bruce Alberts et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell 4th edition [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21054/], free search on line

Teaching methods

Class lessons 

E-learning activities

Structured and guided laboratory practical activities

Assessment methods

The student must acquire the following didactic goals:
- know the morphology of the cell, in particular the animal cell
- know the function of cell organelles
- know the regulatory function of cell signals
- know the main cell activities, such as cell cycle, apoptosis, senescence, differentiation.

The laboratory ability, assessed during the training, will be reported in a written assay to be uploaded on Virtuale before the communicated deadline to enable registration for the examination.

The knowledge will be verified

- for the February session by means of an in itinere written test in December and a second in itinere test in February, comprising a total of 60 questions relating to both the face-to-face and laboratory part. The final assessment will consist of a grade in thirtieths with 1 point awarded for each correct answer and 0.5 points deducted for each incorrect answer.

- in subsequent sessions with a structured oral exam composed by 3 knowdlege questions (to reach a sufficient mark) and two integrated knowledge arguments to establish the final mark.

The final mark of the Integrated Discipline will be the average of the points obtained in Cell Biology and Anatomy (a cum laude grade will weight for 33/30 but, to obtain a final mark cum laude, both the partial exams must be passed with not less than 30).

Teaching tools

Teaching slides 

Virtuale platform for e-learning

Demonstrative video

Laboratory materials for practical teaching

Office hours

See the website of Monica Forni

See the website of Chiara Bernardini

See the website of Augusta Zannoni