The discipline of Molecular Cell Biology investigates how cells develop, operate, communicate, construct multicellular organisms, control their activities, and (on occasion) go awry. To study the properties of the molecules that contribute to all these activities, modern researchers employ concepts and experimental techniques drawn from biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and cell biology. The course will present an overview of our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control cellular processes in health and disease and the techniques that are used to arrive at that understanding. Lectures presented in the course will cover molecular mechanisms of the recognition and interactions between cells, cell growth, intracellular signaling, genome and transcriptome regulation, plasma membrane and cytoskeleton organization, protein and lipid transport, and cellular stress. In addition, lectures on molecular mechanisms of conditions caused by dysregulation of these mechanisms, including growth disorders, cancer, obesity, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative disorders will be given. The course will include laboratory classes providing a high level of hands-on experience in experiment planning, laboratory techniques used in the fields of cell biology and biomedical research, and data analysis. A structured environment and a high level of peer interactions make these classes ideal for students with and without previous experience.
This course is run in parallel with an advanced version, BIOC3671, which includes a research project that students perform in a laboratory in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences instead of attending the weekly laboratory classes. The advanced course is designed for students who plan to pursue research careers in molecular cell biology or related disciplines.
