BMB538: Cellular Identity
Study Board for Natural Sciences
Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher
EKA: N200030112, N200030102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor
STADS ID (UVA): N200030101
ECTS value: 5
Date of Approval: 13-03-2025
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Approved - active
Internal Course Code
Entry requirements
Enrolment in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bachelor study programme and attendance of BMB549.
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to meet the specified requirements for the study programme as well as BMB549, which must be attended in parallel.
Course introduction
The aim of the course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the molecular principles of cellular identity, diversity, and plasticity. The course will introduce technologies from biochemistry and molecular biology used to characterize, visualize, and screen for cellular identity. These will include functional genomics technologies, bioimaging, and strategies for determining gene function. We will focus on selected cell types residing in mammalian tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue as well as their molecular characterization.
The course will introduce recent, research-based literature, which will help the student to critically engage with research-based environments encountered the future.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- Understand the fundamental principles of cellular identity
- Understand internal and external factors having impact on cellular identity in living organisms
- Account for the central concepts; differentiation, trans-differentiation, as well as cellular plasticity
- Provide examples of shifts in cellular identity seen in development, aging, and disease
- State the most important functions of central cellular organelles
- State central epigenetic principles with known importance to cellular differentiation
- Account for the molecular mechanisms underlying writing and reading of the epigenetic code
- Account for the principles of functional genomics analyses for investigation of cellular function and identity
- Account for the principles of luminescence-based techniques for investigation of cellular function and identity
- Account for the principles of bioimaging for investigation of cellular function and identity
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course:
- Evolution and multi cellularity
- Cellular architecture, structure, and basic functions
- Cellular differentiation and specialization
- Cellular plasticity, dedifferentiation, and transdifferentiation
- Introduction to ‘omics’ for investigation of cellular identity
- Introduction to functional genomics
- Introduction to luminescence-based methods
- Introduction to bioimaging methods
- Introduction to experimental planning
- Literature search in preparation of oral presentation
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
Autumn
Tests
Group project with oral presentation
EKA
N200030112
Assessment
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
Pass/Fail
Identification
Full name and SDU username
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
All common aids allowed.
ECTS value
2
Additional information
Group project, evaluated by an orel prensetantion.
Exam element b)
Timing
January
Tests
Written exam
EKA
N200030102
Assessment
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
Pass/Fail
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
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 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
3
Additional information
The reexam will be changed to an oral exam, if 9 or fewer students are enrolled. The reexam is without aids and preparation. Duration: 20 minutes including votation.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 40
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 20
Team lessons in classroom: 20
Common lessons consist of presentations introducing the course topics, central concepts, and key ideas, as well as the pathway to competency development, serving as a supplement to the textbook and additional literature that students are expected to study independently.
Team lessons focus on developing skills in describing cellular identity and understanding the experimental investigation of cellular identity. In the seminar sessions, facilitated by instructors, students work with primary research articles, which they present to each other in groups and discuss collectively.
Other planned teaching activities:
During the latter part of the course, students will work in groups on primary articles that specifically illuminate key aspects of cellular identity and its investigation. This work concludes and is evaluated through an oral presentation.
During the latter part of the course, students will work in groups on primary articles that specifically illuminate key aspects of cellular identity and its investigation. This work concludes and is evaluated through an oral presentation.
Students are expected to dedicate a significant portion of self-study to continuously linking concepts and ideas from the lectures with the group sessions' review of the articles. Additionally, they are expected to allocate a smaller portion of time for revision in preparation for the written exam.
Teacher responsible
| Name | Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Ravnskjær | ravnskjaer@bmb.sdu.dk | Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi |
Additional teachers
| Name | Department | City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lars Grøntved | larsgr@bmb.sdu.dk | Funktionelle Genomiske Studier og Metabolisme |
Timetable
Administrative Unit
Team at Registration
Offered in
Recommended course of study
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.