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Fundamentals of Cell Biology (FCB-802) PHD: Course Outline

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

It is designed to introduce postgraduate students to understand the relationship between structure and function, at every level of cell biology (from individual macromolecules to the cellular level), to the processes that regulate the structure and function of eukaryotic cells and molecular processes that are fundamental for regulating cell function in multicellular organisms. It will also help them to understand external signals (physical, molecular, electrochemical), membrane models, cytoplasmic organelles, biological information from gene to protein, the endomembrane system, secretion, intracellular digestion, endocytosis, transport processes, cytoskeleton, cell motility and all aspects of protein function (expression, regulation, modification, activation, and destruction).

Course Outline

COURSE CONTENT:

  • Physiology
  • Advances in Cell Biology

Course objectives:

Upon completion of the course PhD Scholars should be able to:

  • Relate the microscopic structure of cell to its functioning.
  • Describe the biology of cancer cells.
  • Describe the different body compartments. 
  • Relate the process of transport cross the cell membrane to the maintenance of homeostasis in physiological and pathological conditions.
  • Justify the physiological basis of resting membrane potential in nerve and muscle.
  • Distinguish between the different phases of action potential in nerve and muscle.
  • Comparethe different phases of action potential in Skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and smooth muscle

Course Contents:

  1. Conversion of Single Cell to Multicellular Organisms
  • Differentiate prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • Discuss clinical significance of acellular and unicellular organisms
  • Compare animal cell with pre-cellular forms of life
  • Describe the levels of organization of human body
  1. Microscopic structure of Cell
  • Relate the structure of Cell membrane to its functions
  • Describe various  mechanisms of transport across cellular membrane
  • Describe the  different types of membrane proteins performing various specialized functions in the cell
  • Discuss structure and function of Cytoskeleton
  • Discuss various types of Cell junctions
  • Discuss clinical conditions associated with abnormalities Cell junctions
  1. Cell Organelles
  • Differentiate between membrane and non-membrane bounded organelles on the basis of location and structure
  • Relate the function of each cellular organelle with its biomedical importance
  • Describe the Genetic control of Protein Synthesis, Cell Function, and Cell Reproduction
  1. Cell Biology of Cancer
  • Explain the process of development of cancer
  • Discuss the factors that increase the probability of mutations leading to cancer
  • Discuss protective mechanisms in the body against the development of cancer
  • Differentiate between cancer cell and a normal cell
  • Describe the various phases of Cell Cycle
  • Define Cell injury and enumerate its causes
  • Describe the mechanism of Cell injury
  • Differentiate between Apoptosis and Necrosis
  1.  Levels of Organization of Human body
  • Discuss the various levels of human body along with their functions
  • Discuss Anatomical and Functional compartments of human body
  • Compare Extracellular and Intracellular fluid compartments
  • Describe the Locomotion of cells along with their clinical relevance
  1. Homeostasis
  • Define Homeostasis
  • Discuss the various factors that maintain internal environment
  • Describe the contribution of various body systems in maintenance of Homeostasis
  • Describe the Homeostatic Control Systems in the body
  1. Basic mechanisms of Transport
  • Describe the following mechanism of transport with their clinical relevance:
  • Passive transport
  • Active transport
  • Describe Simple diffusion
  • Describe the structure of:
  • Voltage gated channels
  • Ligand gated channels
  • Mechanically gated channels
  • Describe Facilitated diffusion
  • Describe the various factors affecting rate of diffusion
  • Describe the various types of Passive transport:
  • Bulk flow
  • Filtration
  • Osmosis
  1. Resting Membrane Potential and Action Potential
  • Define Resting Membrane Potential (RMP)
  • Describe the physiological basis of RMP