Introduction to Cell Biology

Syllabus

Cell structure

·         definition and general characteristics of cell (cell theory)

·         structure of prokaryotic cell

·         structure of eukaryotic cell (plant and animal)  

Chemical composition of living systems

·         water and inorganic substances

·         low molecular weight organic molecules: saccharides, organic acids, amino acids, nucleotides, phospholipids

·         high molecular weight organic molecules: polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids  

Nucleic acids and chromosomes I

·         structure of DNA

·         chromosome structure in prokaryotes and viruses

·         chromosome structure in eukaryotes  

Nucleic acids and chromosomes II

·         replication

·         transcription

·         translation  

Membranes I

·      membrane structure o   lipid bilayer o   molecular structure of membranes – lipids, proteins, saccharides

·      cytoplasmic membrane  

Membranes II

·           membrane transport

·           carrier proteins

·           ion channels and the electrical properties of membranes  

Membrane organelles I

·         mitochondria o   the structure o   cellular respiration – Krebs cycle, electron-transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation

·         chloroplasts o   the structure o   photosynthesis – light reactions and dark reactions  

Membrane organelles II

·         endoplasmic reticulum

·         Golgi apparatus

·         endosomes

·         lysosomes

·         peroxisomes

·         intracellular vesicular transport o   transport from the endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi apparatus o   transport from the trans Golgi network to lysosomes o   transport into the cell from the plasma membrane: endocytosis o   transport from the trans Golgi network to the cell exterior: exocytosis  

Cell communications

·         general principles of cell communication

·         signal molecules

·         receptors o   ion-channel–coupled receptors o   G-protein–coupled receptors o   enzyme–coupled receptors  

Cell division

·         cell cycle - four phases (G1, S, G2, M)

·         mitosis - prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis

·         meiosis  

Cell cycle control system 

·         regulation of the cell cycle

·         cell differentiation

·         cell death  

Reproduction of organisms asexual reproduction characteristics binary division, vegetative reproduction, amitosis sexual reproduction characteristics gametogenesis - spermatogenesis, oogenesis, fertilization

Annotation

The main goal of Introduction to Cell Biology is to reveal to the students how the living cell works and teach them how to handle the microscope. Both will give them the background for the subjects in the upcoming years.

For that, we introduce them to the structure and function of every single compartment of the cell and its chemical composition. Other areas such as cell communication, cell division, and regulation of the cell cycle are studied.

Themes: Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, membranes, membrane organelles, DNA and chromosomes, cell communication, cell cycle, reproduction of organisms.