Molecules of Life and Mutations: a new course of advanced pathophysiology combining several modern didactic approaches
Abstrakt
As a part of a longlasting teaching collaboration between the Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Plzen, Charles University Faculty of Science in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, we have introduced a core elective seminar of advanced pathophysiology, with a focus on endocrinology. We combined several didactic approaches, including conventional lectures, practical teaching and exercising of a molecular modelling software, and finally assigned homework for students with subsequent student presentations and discussions in the group, optionally via a videoconference.
Three introductory lectures focussed on various aspects of endocrinology, including pathophysiology of renal water resorption, regulation of body growth, and regulation of calcium homeostasis. Each lecture was conceived to convey a causal understanding of the particular molecules involved, their structural organization and their structural damage incurred by mutations as occurring in distinct genetic syndromes, as well as their possible connections to cancer.
After gaining practical knowledge on a basic molecular modelling software, students were asked to elaborate on a particular protein of their choice in order to connect a particular mutation in the respective gene with the thereby resulting altered structure of the protein and the final phenotypic presentation. This type of an academic seminar could be an interesting extension to the basic education in Physiology and Pathophysiology applicable also for other universities and medical schools.