Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course the students will be able to:

  • Appreciate the different levels of biological organization, from molecules to cells
  • Understand the biological processes critical for cellular functioning
  • Can integrate the different processes into the proper cellular context
  • asses the function of regulatory pathways and networks at the cellular level
  • Describe the general principles of gene organization and expression
  • critically analyze experimental data

Credits: 5

Schedule: 03.11.2021 - 16.12.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Alexander Frey

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course aims at providing the understanding of essential cellular processes (DNA replication, gene expression, protein targeting and transport, protein modification, membrane transport, secretion and endocytosis, cell signaling, regulation of cell death, cell cycle). The course focuses on eukaryotic organisms.

  • applies in this implementation

    In the course three bigger units are covered and each units is accompanied with assignments. 

    Part I: Chapters 4 to 7 (DNA, Chromosomes, genome, replication, recombination, from DNA to protein, control of gene expression)

    Part II: Chapters 10, 12, and 13 (membrane structures, intracellular compartments and protein sorting, membrane traffic)

    Part III: Chapters 15, 17 & 18 (Cell signaling, cell cycle, apoptosis)



Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Examination and assignments

  • applies in this implementation

    The evaluation is based on an examination (50%) and assignments (50%). The assignments include two types of group work. Essay writing in pairs (30%) and works with scientific publications in groups (20%) .

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Total 135 h
    Lectures 24 h
    Assignments 40 h
    Self-study 67 h
    Exam 4 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th edition, Garland Sciences

  • applies in this implementation

    Alternative text book: 

    • Molecular Cell Biology / Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Scott, Bretscher, Ploegh Matsudaira. Published by Freeman and Company. Book covers the same content as the official course text book.

    Other materials:

    • Lecture notes made available via MyCourses pages

    • Other material made available via MyCourses pages



Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Upon request, the course can be completed also as a self-study course during summer (June & July). Deadline for completion is July 31 of each calendar year.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn II

    2021-2022 Autumn II

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=CHEM-E8120

    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

    Sisu