- Docente: Carlo Ventura
- Credits: 2
- SSD: BIO/11
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 9210)
Learning outcomes
Define the mechanisms involved in the replication, repair, transcription and translation of information encoded in nucleic acids. Describe the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression, including epigenetics. Describe the molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination and differentiation.
Course contents
-Analysis of molecular dynamics at the level of cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton.
- Microtubuli as vibrational entities capable to transmit nanomechanical motions and generate electromagnetic signals.
- The microtubular network as a "bioelectronic circuit" driving cellular connectedness and fate.
- Microtubuli as an atomic water channel: biomolecular implications.
- Methods for assessment of microtubular dynamics, and cellular vibrational patterns: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM); Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI).
- Nuclear trafficking of signaling molecules. The nuclear pore complex: translocation of transcription factors and protein kinases.
- Nanomechanics of gene transcription regulation. Transcription factors and epigenetic modulation.
- Molecular motors at cytoplasmic and nuclear level. Interaction with microtubuli, microfilaments, and signaling molecules. Chromatin remodeling.
- Stem cells and Regenerative Medicine. Somatic and stem cell reprogramming. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS). Reprogramming by chemical agents. Reprogramming by physical energies, including electromagnetic fields and nanomechanical vibration. Seeing (stem) cell biology with the eyes of Physics: perspective for a Regenerative Medicine without the needs for cell or tissue transplantation.
Readings/Bibliography
All the bibliographic material will be discussed during the lesson and made available to the students.
Teaching methods
- Computer assisted presentations.
- Discussion of experimental findings.
- Seminars, particularly focused on novel approaches in Regenerative Medicine.
Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 66% of lessons. For Integrated Courses (IC), the 66% attendance requirement refers to the total amount of I.C. lessons. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement will not be admitted to the final exam of the course, and will have to attend relevant classes again during the next academic year.
Professors may authorise excused absences upon receipt of proper justifying documentation, in case of illness or serious reasons. Excused absences do not count against a student’s attendance record to determine their minimum attendance requirement.
Assessment methods
- Computer assisted presentations.
- Discussion at the end of each lesson.
- Discussion of experimental findings.
- Questions and highlights.
- Seminars, particularly focused on novel approaches in Regenerative Medicine.
Teaching tools
- Power point presentations.
- Critical discussion of personal research and review articles.
- Critical readings of studies published by other Authors.
- Presentation of movies form international meetings.
Office hours
See the website of Carlo Ventura