How Do Cells Live and Communicate? Basic Concepts.

A
short-10 lessons course to
introduce students to
the terminology and biology of eukaryotic cells. We will
first dissect basic cellular components (organelles,
DNA, RNA and proteins) and
functions (cell replication, cell communication, cell differentiation), to
then zoom
in on a specific cell type. B lymphocytes, central components of
the immune system, will be introduced to students as an example of
the importance of individual cell subsets. The
cells and their derivatives (antibodies) will be discussed in biological and pathological settings. Their exploitation for diagnostic and therapeutic applications will also be explored to
link between basic
science and medical translation.

Three
teachers with
long-lasting interest in research,
Anna Mondino (AM), Valeria Poli (VP) and Anna Rubartelli
(AR), will jointly run the course, which aims at raising curiosity on
the mechanisms of
action and at increasing
knowledge of fundamental biological
events subtending
day-to-day life. The lessons will attempt to engage students with
real-time questions, and
at home
assignments, which will be then anonymously discussed in
the following lessons. Slides encompassing
“easy to follow
images”, and “associated
easy-to-read
text” will be provided to enable the student to visually follow the lesson, and
to study
off-line.  Modules will be
of maximum 1.5 hours.