Period: 1 st (Fall semester)
ECTS: 6
Course contents:
Methods of molecular and cell biology and genetics:
SECTION 1.- The molecular basis of the cell (9 h)
1.1. Cell evolution: prokaryotes, eukaryotes and multicellular organisms.
1.2. The chemical components of cells: biosynthesis of small molecules, metabolism, energy production, ATP as a universal currency.
1.3. Macromolecules (I): structure and function of proteins.
1.4. Macromolecules (II): nucleic acids, the genetic code.
1.5. The plasma membrane: structure, components, properties, transport.
SECTION 2.- Basic genetic mechanisms and information flow (9 h)
2.1. Genes and chromosomes.
2.2. DNA replication, repair and recombination.
2.3. RNA transcription, processing, stability, localization and regulation of these processes.
2.4. Protein biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms.
SECTION 3.- Internal organization in eukaryotic cells (9 h)
3.1. Internal membranes: nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and internal vesicles. Protein targeting and secretion. Vesicular traffic.
3.2. Mitochondria and chloroplasts: structure, mechanisms of energy conversión.
SECTION 4.- Functions of cells and intercellular organization (19 h)
4.1. Chemical signals between cells: membrane receptors and intracellular effectors (channels, etc), second messengers (in particular Ca2+ and cAMP), intracellular cascades, regulation of genetic programs.
4.2. Synaptic transmission: the nervous system.
4.3. Recognition of macromolecules: the immune system.
4.4. Cell motility and shape: microfilaments, microtubules, cytoskeleton, muscle contraction, cilia and flagella, molecular motors.
4.5. Tyrosine kinase receptor signaling and nuclear receptors.
4.6. Cell division and cell cycle. Cancer.
4.7. Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Extracellular matrix.
4.8. Development and differentiation.
Bibliography:
Recommended textbooks for Molecular and Cell Biology
. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. 2009. Essential Cell Biology. Garland Science. 3nd Edition.
URL for info:http://www.garlandscience.com/product/isbn/9780815341291
URL for online contents: http://www.classwire.com/garlandscience/
. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. y Walter, P. 2011. Introducción a la Biología Celular. Panamericana. 3ª Edición.
. Cooper, G.M. and Hausman, R.E. 2009. The cell: a molecular approach. Sinauer. 5th Edition.
URL for info: http://www.sinauer.com/cooper5e/
NCBI online access to 2nd Ed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9839/
. Cooper, G.M. y Hausman, R.E. 2010. La célula. Marbán. 5ª Edición.
. Tymoczko, J., Berg, J., Stryer, L. 2010. Biochemistry: a short course. W. H. Freeman. 1st Edition.
URL: http://www.whfreeman.com/catalog/Product/biochemistryashortcourse-firstedition-tymoczko
URL for online access to contents: http://bcs.whfreeman.com/tymoczko1e/default.asp?s=&n=&i=&v=&o=&ns=0&uid=0&rau=0
Reference books for Molecular and Cell Biology
. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and, Walter, P. 2008. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Science Publishing. 5th Edition.
NCBI online access to 2002 edition:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21054/
. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. y Walter, P. 2010. Biología molecular de la célula. Omega. 5ª Edición.
. Garret, R. H., Grisham, C. M. 2009. Biochemistry, International Edition. BrooksCole 4th Edition.
. Lodish, H., Berk, A., Matsudaira, P., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Scott, M.P., Zipursky, L. and Darnell, J. 2012. Molecular Cell Biology. Freeman and Company. 7th Edition.
NCBI online access to 2000 edition:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21475/
URL for online access to contents:
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/lodish5e/default.asp?s=&n=&i=&v=&o=&ns=0&t=&uid=0&rau=0
. Lodish, H., Berk, A., Matsudaira, P., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Scott, M.P., Zipursky, L. y Darnell, J. 2005. Biología molecular y celular. Editorial Médica Panamericana. 5ª Edición.
Reference books for Methods of Physics and Mathematics
⋅Claudia Neuhauser, Calculus for biology and medicine, Prentice Hall,2000.
⋅D. S. Jones and B. D. Sleeman, Differential equations and mathematical biology, Chapman&Hall/CRC 2003
⋅K. Huang, Introduction to statistical physics, Taylor and Francis, 2001.
Faculty:
Coordinator of Physics and Mathematical Methods: Jaime Merino
Email: jaime.merino@uam.es
Coordinator of Biology Methods: Eva Richard
Email: erichard@cbm.csic.es
More info on the course official guide (Guía docente)