BMB544: Fundamental cell biology

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish
EKA: N200046132, N200046102
Assessment: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: External
Grading: Pass/Fail, 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N200046101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 22-01-2024


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Approved - active

Entry requirements

The course cannot be taken by students who have previously pass FF503 or BB537.

Academic preconditions

Students taking this course are expected to:

  • Have knowledge of math corresponding to Danish high school A-level
  • Have knowledge of chemistry corresponding to Danish high school B-level

Course introduction

The overall aim of BMB544 is to introduce the student to the compartmentalixaation into organelles and function of cells, from the basics, including different groups of macromolecules through the structure of the cell, metabolic pathways and respiration to genetics and cell communication. Altogether, this will create a strong foundation for the students, and give them a broad general knowledge of the important concepts and theories within biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology.

In addition, it is the aim for course to bridge high school and university teaching, to provide a good start for the students both academically as well as ensuring the right level of competencies.

The course builds on the general admission requirements for a the bachelor programs Biochemistry and molecular biology, Biomedicine and chemistry. The course is a prerequisite for subsequent courses in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB531, BMB532, BMB533) for biochemistry and molecular biology students. It is a prerequisite for the courses in molecular biology and chemical biology  (BMB504, KE547) for chemistry students.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the course contributes to the following:

  • Have knowledge of theories and experimental methods  within the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology (program in Biomedicine, program in Biochemistry and molecular biology)
  • Have knowledge of the scientific terminology used in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology (program in Biomedicine, program in Biochemistry and molecular biology)
  • Be able to approach and take part in scientific and cross-disciplinary collaborations professionally (program in Biomedicine, program in Biochemistry and molecular biology, program in Chemistry)
  • Handle complex and development orientated situations in both studies and future employment (program in Biomedicine, program in Biochemistry and molecular biology, program in Chemistry)
  • Identify own learning requirements, and structure self learning in different learning environment (program in Biomedicine, program in Biochemistry and molecular biology, program in Chemistry)

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

  • Describe the structure of cells and the function of essential organelles
  • Describe cell division and how it relates to inheritance
  • Account for the basic genetic laws, and carry out simple inheritance calculations and considerations based on these
  • Recognize and name functional groups in biological macromolecules and account for there chemical structure
  • Outline the mechanism behind non-covalent forces acting on biomolecules and explain the significance of these in determining the structure
  • List central metabolic pathways and explain their importance for the energy and matter turnover of the cell
  • Recognize common chemical reactions in metabolic pathways
  • Account for the flow of genetic information in a cell, including regulation of gene expression
  • Consider experimental design and control experiments in the perspective of theory of science

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

  • Cell structure and function, including the function of different intracellular organelles and biomembranes
  • Cell cycle, meiosis and mitosis
  • Basic genetics
  • The structure and function of biomolecular macromolecules
  • Metabolism
  • Photosynthesis
  • The flow of information from gene to protein

Literature

Latest edition of N.A. Campbell et al. Biology - a global approach.

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn

Tests

Mandatory assignments

EKA

N200046132

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

1

Additional information

The compulsory assignments are a combination of written home assignments and digital assignments.

Exam element )b

Timing

January

Tests

Written exam

EKA

N200046102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Duration

3 hours

Examination aids

All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes, computer programmes which do not use internet etc.  
 
Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to fill in the MCQ test and to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer the day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning. 

ECTS value

4

Additional information

The re-exam is changed to an oral exam without aids if there are 5 or fewer students enrolled. The oral exam is without preparation time. Duration: 20 minutes.
Any restriction in the syllabus for the ordinary examination will also apply to the re-exam.

Indicative number of lessons

56 hours per semester

Teaching Method

At the faculty of science, teaching is organized according to the three-phase model, i.e. intro, training and study phase. 
  • Intro phase: 30 hours
  • Skills training phase: 26 hours, including: tutorials: 26 hours 
  • Study phase: 6 scheduled hours
The intro phase consists of lectures which gives an introduction to and perspectivation of the topics of the course. Dialogue during the lectures is created using classroom response systems such as Poll Everywhere.
The training phase consists of tutorials. Active learning is prioritized in the tutorials, where the students are urged to participate in learning through problem solving in groups or individually.

The aim of the study phase is for the students to work with the topics of the course differently to the tutorials. The study phase can be used as preparation for the tutorials, and the output of the study phase can be presented at tutorials. Cooperative learning is part of the study phase.

Activities in the study phase:
  • Study of text book
  • Work in study groups (scheduled study phase), including cooperative learning
  • Preparation for tutorials
  • Solving home assignments/MCQs
  • Watch supplemental videos uploaded by teachers
  • Work on additional examples suggested by teachers

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Eva Bang Harvald ebhar@bmb.sdu.dk Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Helle Bogetofte Barnkob hbogetofte@bmb.sdu.dk Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi
Jakob Møller-Jensen jakobm@bmb.sdu.dk Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.