Biological Sciences

The course explores how our anatomy has emerged through vertebrate evolution. The course focuses on particular body parts and use them as case studies to probe how they have been assembled during evolution. In studying these issues, students compare our anatomical organization with that of other vertebrates. This give them insights into origins of our body and how it has been modified during evolution. Students consider evidence from comparative anatomy, from fossils, and from embryology and thus gain an understanding of the transitions that occurred during evolution.

This course provides the central concepts of immunology and the foundation for understanding how immunity functions. The subjects of innate immunity and haematopoiesis introduce the origin and role of different cell types in immunity. The mechanics of how the body protects itself from disease are explored in relation to T and B cell biology, antibody-antigen interaction, major histocompatibility complex and antigen presentation. Other topics include hypersensitivity, immunodeficiencies, immune tolerance, autoimmunity, resistance and immunization to infectious diseases. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. This course identifies the major categories of inherited diseases, the genetic mechanisms contributing to disease etiology, and their inheritance patterns. The course describes strategies to identify the genetic causes of inherited diseases. The course discusses the use of genomic data and technology in the management of inherited diseases and innovations in human genomic research and their applications in medicine. The course evaluates research articles pertinent to medical genomics. The course discusses topics including sequencing the human genome; medical genetics; identification of disease genes; Mendelian diseases; chromosomal diseases; multifactorial diseases; and pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. Students design and perform experiments of molecular genetics, including PCR and direct sequencing using Sanger method, and evaluate the presence of variations/mutations in human DNA and their role in Mendelian disorders. The course is divided in two parts: a wet-lab course, where the students prepare PCR and sequencing reactions, and a part using informatics tools, including public programs and databases, in order to analyze the obtained sequences and evaluate the presence of variants/mutations and determine their possible pathogenicity.

This is a lab course intended to complement the lecture course (ENT3003). It is designed such that students who are concurrently enrolled in ENT3003 can have a better understanding of selected topics covered in the lecture course. Students cannot take the lab course without concurrently taking the lecture course. Students who had completed an equivalent ecology lecture course in a previous semester may be allowed to take this course, but it is not recommended to do so because the lecture (ENT3003) and the lab (ENT3020) are not designed independently.
 

This course explores the edge of fundamental gene research as well as the contemporary practices in a clinical setting. The aim is to ascertain what remains unknown and what information is currently missing, allowing us to form a plan for the future of genetic testing and genome screening. Attention is paid to the ethical choices that arise with these new developments. These are personal choices such as “Do I want to know it if they find something unexpected?” but also societal choices such as “Should we offer everyone genetic screening as a preventive measure, also when there are no medical indications to do so?” The course discusses the possibilities and the desirability of genetic testing and screening from a fundamental scientific point of view, taking into account that the nature of genetic information can be complex and uncertain. The course requires students to have knowledge of complex relations between genetic information and the (dys)functioning of the body, and molecular processes surrounding gene expression and gene regulation, as a prerequisite.

This course introduces the study of mycology. It emphasizes both the lower and higher fungi and covers the basic characteristics and ecology of fungi. The course details the definition of fungi, general characteristics, forms and morphology, and habitat. It emphasizes modes of nutrition and beneficial and detrimental effects of fungi, as well as the economic importance of fungi in agriculture, the environment, health, medicine, and industry. The course also includes a brief introduction to medical mycology focusing on opportunistic fungi causing human and animal diseases and their possible control.

This course provides an introduction to significant aspects of human anatomy and embryonic development. The course covers topographical anatomy and embryonic development of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, urogenital system, and limbs. The first few weeks of human development are examined, alongside the cellular organization of tissues and organs. An understanding of the key principles of embryonic development is provided. The course is taught through lectures, a series of seminars covering more specialized topics, a small number of practicals, and a class in the Anatomy Laboratory (Dissecting Room).

Located within one of the global centers of biodiversity, Singapore is endowed with a rich natural heritage that is impacted by expanding urbanization. Development poses a great challenge to nature conservation and Singapore is an excellent model to study how a balance can be achieved. This course introduces the country's natural heritage, its historical, scientific and potential economic value; provides the opportunity to explore important habitats, and to think critically about the issues of sustainable development and the nation's responsibility to posterity and to regional and international conventions related to biodiversity conservation. Field practicals form the main component of the course and double-up effectively as tutorials. Guest speakers provide further enrichment on the challenges of conservation management in a densely-populated and highly urbanized city state.