Course 2024-2025

Cytology [SVETB112]

  • 2 credits
  • 20h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

As part of the study program in Biomedical sciences, the Cytology teaching unit contributes to reach the following learning outcomes
 
- tomaster elements of biology, chemistry and physics, essential to their interdisciplinary knowledge of the human being;
- to be able to use the basic techniques associated with biomedical research.
- to acquire autonomous and critical thinking skills;
- to master the scientific aspects of disease;
- to analyze concrete questions with rigor;
- to acquire knowledge that will enable to participate in the search for new diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive approaches.
 
More specifically, by the end of the Cytology course, students will be able to:
 
-outline the intracellular organization of an animal cell
 
-describe the main intracellular compartments and their main functions
 
-recognize the main intracellular substructures on electron micrographs
 
 

Objectives

General objective:
 
Learning about cell biology is part of the curriculum aimed at developing an understanding of how an animal organism functions and the pathophysiological basis of the main diseases.
 
Specific objectives:
 
Identify, recognize, define, describe and manipulate the following elements and concepts of animal cell biology:
 
- general intracellular organization
 
- biogenesis, composition, structural and functional characteristics of the main intracellular structures
 
- mechanisms and actors of intracellular dynamism (protein transport and movement of organelles in the cytoplasm)
 
- composition, organization and roles of the cytoskeleton 
 
- basic concepts of some microscopic analysis techniques
 
- intracellular and molecular bases of certain organelle pathologies (examples selected from the course)

Content

Microscopy and Specific localization of macromolecules
 
The cell and its structures :      
 
- Biological membranes   
 
- The cell nucleus
 
- Ribosomes
 
- Endoplasmic reticulum  
 
- Golgi apparatus
 
- Endosomes and lysosomes
 
- Intracellular traffic
 
- Mitochondria
 
- Peroxisomes
 
- Cytoskeleton
 
- Lipid droplets

Teaching methods

Lessons in a classroom, based on schematics and powerpoint slides.

Evaluations

Multiple choice questions

Recommended readings

Syllabus "Biologie Cellulaire introductive à l'Histologie (Yves Poumay et Marielle Boonen)"

Reference texbook:

Molecular Biology of the Cell, Bruce Alberts et al., 6th edition,  W. W. Norton & Company

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree