Course Unit Page
-
Teacher Stefania Rapino
-
Credits 6
-
SSD CHIM/02
-
Teaching Mode Traditional lectures
-
Language English
-
Campus of Bologna
-
Degree Programme Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and Cell Biology (cod. 5825)
-
Course Timetable from Oct 07, 2021 to Feb 04, 2022
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.


Academic Year 2021/2022
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students know i) the physical-chemical principles governing the processes of energy transformations, diffusion and the kinetics of those processes in cells; ii) physical-chemical quantitative methods and approaches to study the cell biology. It includes making accurate measurements to test a predefined hypothesis and comparing the obtained experimental data with theoretical model predictions. The student is able to use calculation and experimental tools for the quantitative description of cellular processes.
Course contents
Physical chemistry of the cell:
1. States of matter.
2. The principles of thermodynamics and the derived state functions. Chemical and mechanical equilibria in cells.
3. Systems with more than one phase or components. Partial molar quantities. Chemical potential.
4. Electrolite solutions. Colligative properties of electrolite solution. Biological membranes.
5. Thermodynamics of electrochemical systems. Biological oxidation.
6. Chemical kinetics: reaction rate, order and molecularity. Reaction rates theories and temperature dependance. Complex reactions and reactions in solution. Enzymatic catalysis. Cellular dynamics of molecular motors.
7. Spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry
8. Functional imaging of living cells and biosensors.
9. Basics of statistics and probability with applications to experimental data. Data analysis and plotting.
Readings/Bibliography
Lecture notes and slides
Rob Phillips, Jane Kondev, Julie Theriot "Physical Biology of the Cell". 2nd Ed. 2012
P.W. Atkins, J. De Paula, Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences, 2nd Edition
Teaching methods
The course consists in 32 hours of lectures. The course also comprises 12 hours of numerical exercises and 15 hours of laboratory practice.
Assessment methods
The exams is written and oral. The written part consists of numerical exercises similar to those solved during the course. The oral exam (which can be taken after passing the written part) will ascertain the comprehension of the theoretical part of the course and of the laboratory practicals. A written report on the laboratory practice is also required.
Teaching tools
Videoprojector, laboratories, PC, online IOL platform.
Office hours
See the website of Stefania Rapino