COURSE CONTENT

Unit 1. Cell and Cell Organelles: Size and Shape – Principles of Microscopy –

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells – Animal and plant cells – Model organisms –

Plasma membrane – Nucleus – Ribosomes – Endoplasmic reticulum – Golgi system –

Lysosomes – Peroxidosomes – Mitochondria

Unit 2. Macromolecules – Structure and function of Proteins: Fatty acids – Sugars – Amino acids – Active

carrier molecules – Shape and structure of proteins – Levels of protein organization – α-helix – β-fold

sheet – Biological catalysis -Function of proteins: Linking with other molecules, Catalytic action of

of enzymes and its regulation – Activated molecules – carriers – Allosteric enzymes – Degradation

proteins

Unit 3. Biomembranes and transport: Structure of membranes – Membrane proteins –

Membrane transport: Diffusion – Osmosis – Assisted diffusion – Active transport –

Na+, K+, Ca+ pumps – Ion channels and membrane potential – Ion channels and nerves

cells – Endocytosis – Exocytosis

Unit 4. Nucleic acids – Chromatin – Gene regulation: A) Structure of eukaryotes

of chromosomes – Euchromatin – Heterochromatin – Organization of genes. B) DNA as a carrier

heredity – Structure and function of DNA – Copying DNA – Repairing DNA –

DNA recombination – Transcription – RNA maturation – Genetic code – Translation – Ribozymes.

1. C) Gene regulation – Molecular switches – Differentiation – Developmental biology – Epigenetics:

RNA interference, DNA methylation

Unit 5. Cell Cycle – Cell Death: Cell Cycle – Cell Cycle Control

– Kinases – Cell death – Apoptosis – Cell division, cytokinesis

Unit 6. Cell communication: General principles of cell signaling – Receptors – G-

Proteins – Enzyme-linked receptors – Intracellular signaling sequences

Unit 7. Cytoskeleton Microtubules, Actin filaments, Intermediate fibrils – Muscle contraction

Unit 8. Intracellular Compartments and Transport: Protein Sorting – Transport by Vesicles –

Pathways of secretion – Pathways of endocytosis

Unit 9. Procellular and Prokaryotic Organisms: Structure of Viruses – Life Cycle and Genetics

bacteriophages – Lytic cycle – Lysogenic cycle – Life cycle and genetics of retroviruses – Transposables

facts – Genetics of bacteria

Unit 10. Energy production in mitochondria and chloroplasts: Mitochondria and

oxidative phosphorylation – Electron transport chains – Chloroplasts and photosynthesis

Unit 11. DNA Technology: Cell Cultures – DNA Analysis Techniques – Hybridization –

Cloning – Polymerase chain reaction – Genetic engineering – Microarrays

Unit 12. Immune System: Cellular & Molecular Basis of Immune Responses: Non-specific –

Specific immune response, Cells and immune response, Immune memory, Structure and Function

of antibodies – Molecular basis of antibody diversity – Major complex

histocompatibility

Unit 13. Tissues and Cancer: Intercellular Junctions – Stem Cells – Cancer