Biological Sciences

The course discusses the principles of genetics with application to the study of biological function at the level of molecules, cells, and multicellular organisms, including humans. The topics include the structure and function of genes; chromosomes and genomes; biological variation resulting from replication and recombination, mutation and selection; DNA repair and the genetic basis of disease inheritance. The following topics are covered as well: the chemical structure of DNA and the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication; the basic principles how information stored in genes is converted to a (cellular) phenotype in the form of RNA and protein; the concepts of genome structure, comparative genomics, and functional genomics; the molecular basis of single gene inheritance (Mendel's first law), sex-linked single gene inheritance and, human pedigrees; the concepts of Darwin's theory of Natural Selection, molecular evolution, and the origin of new genes and species. The prerequisite course is Cell Biology.

The course examines and evaluates different approaches to understanding and treating various mental health conditions. This course equips students with the skills and knowledge to apply diverse approaches to understanding symptoms and causes of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. By engaging with biopsychosocial, transdiagnostic, and clinical staging models, students develop the ability to integrate evidence-based insights into simulated clinical decision-making. Importantly, the course explores the real-world impact of mental health disparities, supporting students to identify and critically evaluate systemic inequalities, for example in the prevalence of mental health challenges and in access to care. 

The study of genetics focuses on understanding phenotypic variation and the mechanisms underlying inheritance. This courses examines the processes that participate in converting an individual's genotype into the phenotypes displayed by that individual. This course presents the fundamental properties of genes and the various approaches to genetic analysis, as it is performed in several different model organisms. 

This course provides students with detailed knowledge about the molecular processes in cell signaling and control of gene expression. Topics include: intracellular signaling pathways; chromatin structure and remodeling; recruitment and assembly of transcription factors; eukaryote mRNA synthesis, processing, modification, stability and translation; stem cells and reprogramming; and the culmination of the above factors that drive common complex human disease. The tutorials are partially in Problem Based Learning (PBL) and multiple-choice format, with exercises designed to provide a perspective of how cutting edge molecular biological techniques are applied to tackle major research questions in modern biomedical research. Students are acquainted with the best-characterized cell signaling mechanisms in eukaryotic cells, gene structure/function, and different gene regulatory mechanisms (chromatin remodeling and (post)transcriptional regulation) in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The course covers how molecular biology, when used in combination with other biological disciplines (e.g. biochemistry, genetics, imaging), can provide tools to understand (diagnostics) and intervene (therapy) in the cellular complexity of human disease. Prerequisites for this course are Cell Biology and Genetics.

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.