.
Molecular and Cell Biology
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:8.00
Study Course Accepted:20.02.2024 10:32:43
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | BUMK_061 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 3.00 | ECTS: | 4.50 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Biology; Molecular Biology | Target Audience: | Biology; Medicine | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Zanda Daneberga | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Department of Biology and Microbiology | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Riga, Dzirciema Street 16, bmk rsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061584 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 12 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 24 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 8 | Class Length (academic hours) | 3 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 24 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 48 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry (in accordance with the standard for secondary education adopted by National Centre for Education). | ||||||||
| Objective: | To provide students with the knowledge of molecular processes in the cell, as well as understanding of the role of human genome variation in aetiology of human pathology. To develop students’ skills in learning molecular biology laboratory methods, to help to understand the use of the acquired theoretical knowledge in medicine. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Introduction to molecular biology. The central dogma of molecular biology. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Storage of information in the cell. Nucleic acids, their chemical composition, structure and functions. DNA replication. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 2 | Nucleus and mitochondria, their structure and functions. Chromosomes, chromatin structure and types. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 3 | Eukaryotic and prokaryotic genome – gene structure, organisation and functions. Genetic code. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 4 | Transfer of genetic information in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell – transcription, translation. Processing of proteins. Structure and functions of proteins. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 5 | Molecular mechanisms of gene expression – epigenetic and epigenomic regulation. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 6 | Human genome variation. Genetic variants and mutational process, its impact on human pathology. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 7 | Cytoskeleton, its structure and functions. Cell division of eukaryotic cell – mitosis and meiosis. Cell division in prokaryotes. Recombination of genetic material. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 8 | The cell cycle, regulation mechanisms. DNA reparation mechanisms. Molecular mechanisms of cell aging and cell death. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 9 | Molecular mechanisms of gametogenesis and fertilisation, impact on development of human pathology. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 10 | Molecular mechanisms of cell functions. Intracellular transport. Transmembrane transport of small molecules, ions and macromolecules. Endomembrane system, its structure and functions. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 11 | Molecular mechanisms of cell functions – cell communication. Intracellular and extracellular signal transductions. Extracellular matrix, its structure and functions. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 12 | Molecular biology in vitro methods in medicine. | Lectures | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 13 | Practical class No. 1. The nucleus and DNA of eukaryotes. Human metaphase chromosomes in microscope slides. Karyotype. | Classes | 1.00 | laboratory | |||||
| 14 | Practical class No. 2. Tasks of molecular biology and epigenetics. | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 15 | Colloquium I. Testing knowledge of topics covered during lectures No. 1 – 6, and practical classes No. 1 – 2. | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 16 | Practical class No. 3. Identification of stages in karyokinesis (microscopy slides). | Classes | 1.00 | laboratory | |||||
| 17 | Practical class No. 4. Analysis of stages in gametogenesis, mature sex cells (microscopy slides). | Classes | 1.00 | laboratory | |||||
| 18 | Practical class No. 5. Transport of solutes in the eukaryotic cell. Cells signalling systems. Analysis of different signalling pathways. | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 19 | Practical class No. 6. Molecular biology in vitro methods in medicine – case studies. | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 20 | Colloquium II. Testing knowledge of topics covered during lectures No. 7 – 12 and practical classes No. 3 -6. | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Individual work with the lecture and practical classes materials, recommended literature, according to the topic of lectures and practical classes. Analysis of scientific publications to acquire deeper understanding of the study course topics (if necessary). Upon completion the study course, fill in the study course evaluation questionnaire. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Upon completion of the course “Molecular and Cell Biology”, students are obligated to take a final exam. • The examination consists of multiple choice questions, short-answer questions, yes/no answers, matching answers, short open type questions. • Students are eligible to receive an cumulative grade, thus, are exempt from taking the final exam, if they meet the following requirements: - The student has taken all colloquia at their planned time for each group and passed successfully passed both colloquia, the average grade of each colloquium is at least 4.00 (if the colloquium is re-taken, the average grade is not mathematically rounded). • The final cumulative grade is calculated taking into account grades received for colloquia (70%), practical classes protocols (24%) and online practical classes tests (6%). • If exam has to be taken, the final grade is exam grade. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Upon completion of the study course, students will be able to explain the central dogma of molecular biology and its role in providing functions of eukaryotes and prokaryote cells. They will be familiar with the operational principles of the information realisation system, its regulation and functional role in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Able to describe the main molecular mechanisms for ensuring normal cell functions as well as to justify the consequences of cellular disorders. | ||||||||
| Skills: | On completion of the study course, students will be able to use a light microscope, to plan and carry out experiments to monitor cell functions. Students will have acquired skills in molecular biology techniques – nucleic acid isolation and polymerase chain reaction, and they will be able to interpret the results obtained. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, students will be able to collect the most relevant information and correctly apply the concepts of molecular biology. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Students will be able to combine theoretical knowledge and skills and integrate them into learning of other preclinical and clinical courses. Students will be able to attribute cellular disorders to the pathology of the body as a whole. They will understand the role of structural and functional disorders of the genome in the aetiology of diseases. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Krūmiņa A., Baumanis V. Eikariotu šūnu bioloģija. Rīga, RSU, 2015. (latviešu plūsmas studijām /for studies in Latvian) | ||||||||
| 2 | Bruce A., et al.- Molecular biology of the cell 6th edition or later. New York, NY: Garland Science, Taylor and Francis Group, 2015. | ||||||||
| 3 | Pollard T. D., Earnshaw W. C. – Cell Biology. 2nd ed., Saunders, Elsevier, 2017 | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Pasternak J.J. – An introduction to human molecular genetics : mechanisms of inherited diseases. Wiley-Liss, 2005. | ||||||||
| 2 | Cooper G.M., Hausman R.E.- The cell.A Molecular approach. 6th ed.,ASM press, 2013 | ||||||||
| 3 | William. S. Klug, M.R. Comings - Concepts of Genetics. 10th ed. – Prentice Hall, 2014. | ||||||||
| 4 | Pierce B.A. Genetics: a conceptual approach. 5th ed., W.H. Freeman, 2014. | ||||||||
| 5 | Iwasas J. and Marshall W. - Karp`s Cell Biology, John Wiley & Sons; 8th Edition, Global edition, 2018. | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | Internet. NCBI (DNA &RNA, Genetics&Medicine, Genes &Expression, Genomes&Maps). | ||||||||
| 2 | Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2016. | ||||||||
| 3 | The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 2nd edition. Cooper GM. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2013. | ||||||||
