- Docente: Pier Luigi Martelli
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIOS-07/A
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and Computational Biology (cod. 6254)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student understands the issues related to the complexity in biological systems and is able to model their structure (network theory) and dynamics (ordinary differential equations and Boolean networks). She/he will be able to discuss the stability of biological systems in simple real cases.
Course contents
INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
Biological Systems
Experimental Techniques
Genomics, Proteomics, Interactomics, Transcriptomics, Metabolomics, Metagenomics, Epigenomics
Basics on Model:
- Mathematical Methods: Networks
- Mathematical Methods: Differential equation
- Mathematical Methods: Boolean Networks
Kinetics of biochemical reactions and simple metabolic pathways
Transcription networks in Prokariotes:
- Analysis of simple motifs (self-regulation, Feed-forward loops)
Examples of applications in physiological models:
- The Insulin-Glucose Circuit
Readings/Bibliography
Slides of the lecture, scientific literature and on-line materials. All materials will be made available on Virtuale
Suggested books for a deeper study are following. They are not necessary to pass the exam.
Ingalls BP (2013) Mathematical Modeling in Systems Biology. MIT press [ISBN: 9780262018883]
Alon U. (2006) An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits. Chapman & Hall/CRC Mathematical and Computational Biology (Vol. 10) [ISBN-13: 9781584886426]
Alon U. (2023) Systems Medicine Physiological Circuits and the Dynamics of Disease. Chapman and Hall/CRC [ISBN: 9781003356929]
Teaching methods
Lectures
Assessment methods
The final exam consists of a written test followed by an oral discussion.
The written test consist of a set of 4-6 exercises aiming at assessing the ablity of the student to apply the concepts learned during the course to simple problems. The exercises should be solved in 120 minutes.
During the oral session, the results of the written exam will be discussed and the theoretical knowledge of the student will be assessed.
The topics of the exam are:
- the knowledge of the theory of complex networks and their application to the description of biological systems;
- the analysis and integration of omics data
- the knowledge of the basic theory of ordinary differential equations and their application to the description of biological systems.
With regard to assessment, the use of AI is
prohibited. Any use constitutes a breach of academic integrity.
Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.
Students recognized as “working students”: please consult the dedicated website (https://www.unibo.it/en/study/guide-to-choosing-your-programme/balancing-study-and-work) to apply for this status and to learn about the available measures.
Office hours
See the website of Pier Luigi Martelli