Teaching Plan Information

1. Course details

1.1. Content area

-

1.2. Course nature

Optional

1.3. Course level

Grado

1.4. Year of study

XX

1.5. Semester

First semester

1.6. ECTS Credit allotment

6.0

1.7. Language of instruction

English

1.8. Prerequisites

-

1.9. Recommendations

Previous knowledge on biology is required. Students from Boston University are expected to have followed CAS BI 108 and CAS CH 102 or equivalents. Students from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid should have taken a previous course of General Biology, equivalent to a last High School year (2º Bachillerato) or First Degree Course at University.

1.10. Minimum attendance requirement

Attendance is highly recommended for theoretical lessons and is mandatory for seminars.

1.11. Subject coordinator

Rocio Gomez Lencero

1.12. Competences and learning outcomes

1.12.1. Competences / Results of the training and learning outcomes

-

1.12.2. Learning outcomes

-

1.12.3. Course objectives

1.- Acquire basic knowledge of eukaryote cell components: molecules, genomes and organelles.

2.- Understand the main processes operating in cells: genome expression, protein synthesis, intracellular trafficking, membrane transport, cell movement, cell communication, cell adhesion, cell proliferation and differentiation.

3.- Develop data analysis competences and critical thinking.

4.- Acquire basic skills for communication of scientific contents.

1.13. Course contents

FIRST PART: INTRODUCTION. ORGANIZATION AND PROCESSING OF GENETIC INFORMATION

1. Introduction: features of eukaryote cells. Origin and evolution of cells.

2. Fundamentals of cell biochemistry: sugars, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

3. Research tools in cell biology: cell cultures, model organisms, molecular techniques, cellular and organism modification, microscopy techniques.

4. Cell nucleus: nuclear envelope, chromatin structure and nuclear compartmentalization.

5. Genome organization: types of DNA sequences and their proportions and origin.

6. DNA: replication, repair and recombination.

7. RNA: transcription and processing.

8. Proteins: synthesis, folding and degradation.

SECOND PART: CELL SURFACE AND ORGANELLES

9: Cell membranes: composition, organization and dynamics.

10: Membrane transport: passive diffusion, passive transport, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis.

11: Cell communication: signaling molecules and receptors, transduction mechanisms and signaling pathways.

12: Endoplasmic reticulum: Protein sorting and transport I: endoplasmic reticulum and the secretory pathway.

13 and 14: Golgi Apparatus and Lysosomes.  Protein sorting and transport II: Golgi apparatus, vesicular transport and lysosomes.

15: Bioenergetics and metabolism: mitochondria, chloroplasts, cellular energetics and peroxisomes.

THIRD PART: CYTOSKELETON AND CELL PROLIFERATION

16. Actin microfilaments: organization, polymerization, regulation and functions.

17. Intermediate filaments: organization, polymerization, regulation and functions.

18. Microtubules: organization, polymerization, regulation and functions.

15: Cell adhesion. Cell surface: cellular interactions and extracellular matrix.

20. Cell cycle: phases of the cell cycle, regulation by CDK-cyclin complexes, checkpoints.

21. Cell differentiation and death: stems cells, differentiation of cells in tissues, events of apoptosis, intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways.

22. Mitosis: phases and events of mitosis, checkpoints, APC, cytokinesis.

23. Cancer: cellular approaches to cancer study and therapy.

1.14. Course bibliography

The organization and contents of the course will mainly follow the book:

• Cooper, G.M. and Hausman, R.E. The Cell, A Molecular Approach. 7^th Edition. Sinauer Associates, 2016.

Other recommended bibliography:

• Alberts, B., Bray, D., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. Molecular Biology of the Cell. B. 6^th Ed. Garland Science, 2015.

• Alberts, B., Bray, D., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. 2013. Essential Cell Biology. Garland Science. 4^th Edition.
• Hardin, J., Bertoni, G.P. and Kleinsmith, L.J. 2011. Becker's World of the Cell. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. 8th Edition.
• Lodish, H. Kaiser, C.A., Bretscher, A., Amon, A., Berk, A., Krieger, M., Ploegh, H and Scott, M.P. 2013. Molecular cell biology. 7^th Edition. Macmillan.
• Pollard, T.C., Earnshaw, W.C. and Lippincott-Schwartz, J. 2007. Cell Biology. Elsevier. 2^nd Edition.

2. Teaching-and-learning methodologies and student workload

2.1. Contact hours

2.2. List of training activities

LECTURES

The goal of the course is to understand the fundamental principles of cell biology. The aim of the lectures is to convey to the students the theoretical contents of the composition and functions of cells. Lectures will have a duration of 50 minutes, where the lecturer will present in a simply way the contents of each topic always encouraging students to participate with questions and comments.

ACTIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES

• SEMINARS

The theoretical program will be accompanied by 5 seminars of 1 hour each. These seminars seek to encourage students analyze the experimental nature of contemporary research in the Cell and Molecular Biology and understand its relationship with the fundamental background information given during the theoretical lectures.

Students will prepare a short lecture (30-45 minutes) in small groups (3-4 people) about one topic related to the contents of the course. The rest of the students could engage in a discussion about the topic. After the talk, the speakers will provide a set of questions about their talk to be included in a seminar test at the end of the course.

• FLIPPED CLASSROOM

The course includes one session of 3 hours of flipped classroom. Among those 3 hours, 1 hour is preparation in the student´s autonomous time, and another 2 is an in-class session to discussed the concepts learnig via the flipped classroom. The aim of this activity is providing the tools and the environment that encourage critical thinking and mediate a proper scaffolding to understand a complex topic in the field of Cell Biology. The activity includes videos recorded by the instructors that contain explanations and visual aids, as well as interactive activities requiring the remote participation of the students before the in-person session, in which the answers given are discussed and applied questions are actively solved by the students with the support of the instructors.

• CASED-BASED LEARNING LESSONS

The course includes one session of 4 hours of cased-based learning. This collaborative case-based learning approach is a learner-centered pedagogy whereby learners apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios, developing higher order thinking skills. The activity includes the study of a case related to the contents of the theory lessons, the teamwork over the case, and the presentation in groups of the resolution of the case. This activity enables the evaluation and reflection on the value of case-based learning and developing case material in promoting collaborative teaching, sharing expertise and knowledge.

TUTORIALS

The University recommends that students attend one-to-one tutorials for the resolution of questions regarding the content of the course. These tutorials will be held individually and upon request with the teacher assigned.

3. Evaluation procedures and weight of components in the final grade

3.1. Regular assessment

Student’s final grading will be based on the understanding of theoretical concepts (75%) and participation in active learning activities (25%).

THEORY

Theory contents will be divided in three parts. There will be two mid-term evaluations and one final evaluation scheduled, covering the complete syllabus. These exams will review the knowledge and skills collected by the students during the course. The 75% of the grade that corresponds to theory concepts will be based on the result of the 3 examinations, with the two mid-term evaluation exams weighing 25% of the total grade and the final, and the evaluation exam being the remaining 25% of the total grade. One of the questions of the exam will be based on the concepts worked during the case-based learning session and another question will be related to contents included in the flipped classroom.

Active Learning Activities

The 25% of the total grade will be based on active learning activities (seminars, flipped classroom and case-based learning session). A 10% will be accounted by student skills for understanding and communicating the concepts exposed in their presentation during the assigned seminar, and 10% will be accounted by a quiz including questions from all of the seminars. 5% for their participation in case-based learning session and flipped classroom activities.

y a quiz including questions from all of the seminars.

3.1.1. List of evaluation activities

3.2. Resit

If any student fails the final exam, a second exam will be arranged before the end of the semester.

3.2.1. List of evaluation activities

4. Proposed workplan

*This calendar is tentative.

THEORY/SEMINARS

FIRST PART: INTRODUCTION. GENETIC INFORMATION ORGANIZATION AND PROCESSING

     - Theory lessons: 17 hours

     - Discussion seminars: 2 hours

     - Review and mid-term evaluation exam: 2 hours

SECOND PART: CELL SURFACE AND ORGANELLES

     - Theory lessons: 16 hours

     - Discussion seminars: 2 hours

     - Review and mid-term evaluation exam: 2 hours

THIRD PART: CYTOSKELETON AND CELL PROLIFERATION

     - Theory lessons: 12 hours

     - Discussion seminars: 4 hours

- Review and final evaluation exam: 3 hours