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2022　Functional Life Science

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Life Science and Technology
Instructor(s)
Nakamura Nobuhiro  Orihara Kanami  Koshikawa Naohiko  Hoshino Ayuko  Ogura Shunichiro 
Class Format
Lecture    (Livestream)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon3-4()  Thr3-4()  
Group
-
Course number
LST.A421
Credits
2
Academic year
2022
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2022/8/23
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

　Cell and tissue homeostasis is tightly regulated by complex signaling networks at intracellular, intercellular and interorgan levels, and its dysfunction often leads to disease development and progression.
　In this course, we will review the basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, immunology and physiology, and further learn high-level biological and pathophysiological processes, such as 1) allergic diseases and the effect of circadian rhythm regulation, 2) cancer development and acquisition of malignant progression of cancer cells, and 3) the role of intercellular and interorgan communication in disease progression.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
１）explain the basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular/cell biology and physiology, such as homeostasis, metabolism, signal transduction and ubiquitination.
２）explain the basics in immunology and learn the mechanism of allergy development.
３）explain the mechanism of circadian system and learn about its impact on the immune system.
４）explain the basic concepts of cancer development and progression and its application for cancer medicine.
５）explain the importance of cell-cell communication for progression of diseases such as cancer metastasis and obestric disease.
６）explain the importance of mitochondrial dynamics and ubiquitination for cell homeostasis.

Keywords

Cell biology, Physiology, Immunology, Allergy, Circadian rhythm, Cancer (Carcinogenesis, Invasion and metastasis, Diagnosis and therapy), Molecular biology and human disease, Cell-cell communication, Ubiquitination, Mitochondria

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Lectures are given by the Zoom broadcasting.　This course will be organized by five lecturers and given in English.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Mechanisms of allergy development (Orihara) Learn the basics in immunology and students will become able to explain the mechanism of allergy development.
Class 2 Basics and mechanisms of biological clock (Orihara) Learn the basics of biological clock and students will become able to explain the mechanism of circadian rhythm.
Class 3 Circadian control of the immune system (Orihara) Learn the impact of the circadian clock on the immune system, and students will become able to explain the importance of the body clock.
Class 4 Homeostasis（Ogura） Students will become able to explain homeostasis.
Class 5 Metabolism and its control（Ogura） Students will become able to explain metabolism and its control.
Class 6 Signal transduction（Ogura） Students will become able to explain signal transduction.
Class 7 Cell Biology (1): Ubiquitination: Fundamental functions (Nakamura) Students must be able to explain the molecular mechanism of tumor development (Carcinogenesis).
Class 8 Cell Biology (2): Ubiquitination: Fundamental functions - Viral immune evasion (Nakamura) Students will become able to explain ubiquitination and learn its role in viral immune evasion.
Class 9 Cell Biology (3): Mitochondrial dynamics (Nakamura) Students will become able to explain the mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics and learn its role in mitochondria homeostasis.
Class 10 Mechanism of cancer development (Koshikawa) Students must be able to explain the molecular mechanism of tumor development (Carcinogenesis).
Class 11 Mechanism of cancer malignant progression (Koshikawa) Students must be able to explain the molecular mechanism of cancer malignant progression (Invasion and metastasis).
Class 12 Cancer metastasis (organotropic metastasis) (Hoshino) Students will be asked to explain the mechanism underlying cancer metastasis.
Class 13 Underlying mechanism of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Hoshino) Students will be asked to explain multiple possibility for underlying mechanism of ASD.
Class 14 Current situation with prenatal testing and obstetric disease in Japan (Hoshino) Students will be asked to explain about prenatal testing and obstetric disease.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

N/A

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Handouts will be distributed in advance via the OCW-i system when necessary.
【Book】The Biology of Cancer (Garland Science)

Assessment criteria and methods

Academic assessment will be done by the scores of quizes and/or reports assigned by each lecturer .

Related courses

  • LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
  • LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
  • LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
  • LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
  • LST.A248 ： Molecular Genetics
  • LST.A344 ： Animal Physiology
  • LST.A404 ： Cell Physiology

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Students are expected to have successfully completed Biochemistry I & II, Molecular Biology I & II, and Molecular Genetics, or have equivalent knowledge (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genomic Biology).

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