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Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell and tissue function across species is a cornerstone of the life sciences. One central feature of biology is that cells possess both conserved processes and unique mechanisms that are crucial for proper cell function and viability. As such, an in-depth comparison of core molecular processes across cell types, as well as an understanding of how these mechanisms contribute to fitness and health, is key to a sophisticated understanding of cell biology.

In this module, lectures will be delivered by research-leaders in evolutionary cell biology, genetics, molecular cell biology and ageing, and will build on material covered in core First and Second Year modules (BIOC0001, CELL0007, BIOL0008 and CELL0009) to provide a comprehensive understanding of cell function at the level of genome organisation, gene regulation, proteome management, metabolic homeostasis and adaptive responses across different cell types and organisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants, worms, planaria, tardigrades, fish, rodents and humans). By focusing on these areas of cell biology, the module will then examine the similarities and differences in cell function across domains, kingdoms and species by discussing: 1) the cell biology behind specializations in cell function, 2) differences in the biology behind plant and animal cells, 3) the evolution of cell-type specificity and multicellular species, 4) organism-specific adaptive responses and 5) changes in function between young and old cells. In addition, students will have the opportunity to conduct an independent mini research project in which they contribute to a real-world ongoing experiment aimed at understanding how cells respond to the presence of toxic proteins. Using RNA interference, students will attempt to discover new mechanisms that promote muscle health in Caenorhabditis elegans models of proteotoxicity.

At the completion of this module, students will possess a broad understanding of the conserved and cell type- specific molecular mechanisms that exist to promote cell viability and fitness in various species, and will have gained experience in designing, conducting and recording experiments aimed at assessing the impact of genetic manipulations on cell function and tissue health. This will be essential for students interested in obtaining a more complete understanding of cell and molecular biology, as well as anyone interested in gaining practical experience in conducting a research project.

Lecture list

1. The Importance of Comparative Cell Biology

2. Maintinaing genome integrity

3. Regulating gene expression

4. Maintaining Protein homeostasis

5. Cellular stress responses

6. Mitochondrial homeostasis

7. Cell division

8. The cell biology of multicellular life

9. Plant cells vs animal cells

10. The cell biology of specialisation (Muscles, Neurons, stem cells & immune cells)

11. Evolutionary cell biology

12. Cellular Regeneration

13. Organismal adaptations to stress

14. The cell biology behind unusual lifestyles ( C. elegans, tardigrades, planaria, plants, killifish, naked mole rats, humans)

15. Changes in genomic integrity with age

16. Aberrant gene regulation in aged cells

17. Loss of proteome integrity with age

18. Cellular senescence – friend or foe?

19. Cell death (and how to avoid it)

20. Manipulating cell biology to improve society

Module objectives

At the completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Describe and understand the conserved and cell type-specific molecular mechanisms that exist to promote cell viability and fitness in various species
2. Compare similarities and differences in cell function within different cell types, across diverse organisms and between young and old cells.
3. Develop and test hypotheses, collect and analyse data, write-up and present research findings, and succinctly present their findings to others.