Skip to main content

Department of Natural Sciences

Cell Biology

Lecture

Compulsory Course

  • in BSc Applied Biology, 1st Semester 
  • 6h/week (3L/2E/1P)
  • Credits: 7 ECTS

 

Learning outcomes:

  • Having finished lecture and exercises of the module Cell Biology students know about the differences and similarities of pro- and eukaryotic cells, as well as structure and function of cell organelles including cell membranes and cytoskeleton.
  • They are able to distinguish between types, structure and function of cellular macromolecules and to explain their synthesis pathways (replication, transcription, translation, protein maturation) including regulation.
  • They know aerobic respiration and fermentation as important metabolic pathways.
  • They have understood the significance of the cell-cycle and are able to describe its course and regulation.
  • Students are familiar with different types of cell-cell junctions, their structure and function.

Content:

  • Structure and morphology of the cell
  • Macromolecules, structure and function
  • Biological membranes, membrane transport
  • Introduction to gene expression and its regulation
  • Molecular and cellular basics of cell reproduction
  • Cell Biochemistry
  • Cell-cell junctions, structure and function

Internship

Learning outcomes:

  • Having finished the practical class participants are able to use a light microscope in order to study morphology and behaviour of unicellular eukaryotic organisms.
  • They are familiar with the effect of osmotic stress on erythrocytes and are able to extract DNA from vegetable or animal sources.
  • They are able to present, analyse and discuss their own data and observations in a lab report.

Content:

  • Light microscopic analysis of eukaryotic cells
  • Determination of the osmoresistance of erythrocytes via photometric analysis
  • Light microscopic analysis of mitotic stages
  • DNA-extraction from plant or animal tissue

Requirements

The module is graded.

The final grade is made up by the student’s performance in the exam (75%) and in the laboratory (25%).

Literature

  • Alberts et al.: Essential Cell Biology, 2003, Garland Publishing Inc., US
  • Alberts et al.: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2008, Taylor and Francis
  • Lodish et al.: Molecular Cell Biology, 2007, Palgrave Macmillan

Links