1. Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) or equivalent with a major in chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical technology, biomedical methods and technology, biomedical laboratory science, or in other areas of natural, medical, engineering sciences or technology of relevance to the programme with a minimum of 15 credits in chemistry and/or biochemistry.

2. The equivalent of English B, or English 6, in Swedish secondary school.

The aim of the course is for the student to acquire knowledge in cell biology and the membranes in a cell and the integration within biomedical surface science.

The course will provide both theoretical and practical knowledge regarding biological interfaces. The course describes the structure and function of eukaryotic cell membranes such as the cell membrane, nuclear membrane and organelles membranes. The structure and function of the various membranes and other biological interfaces are described and discussed, as well as transport phenomena, receptors in the cell membrane, cell signaling and the formation of micro-domains. Furthermore are the most common signaling pathways, cell adhesion, cell-cell contact, cell junctions and its constituent molecules and the different mechanisms of endocytosis and exocytosis covered.

Different cell biological methods and techniques for studying protein will be presented including methods to isolate protein from the different cellular compartments and the localization and characterization of these.

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to

1. describe the constitution of different membranes of the eukaryotic cell,

2. explain how molecules can be transported across different membranes in the cell and also how micro domains arise in the cell membrane and which functions they have,

3. account for how signals from the environment outside the cell will be transported into the cell and how it influences the intracellular consequences, and

4. apply methods to study cell membrane and membrane fractions of a cell, methods to study interactions between proteins and localization of a protein in a cell.

To achieve the learning outcomes 1-3 lectures, oral group discussions, seminars and journal club are used. Lectures, independent lab work, oral and written reports together with laboratory experiments will be used to stimulate students' active participation and reflection to achieve the learning outcome 4.

The learning outcomes 1-3 are assessed through group discussions and individual written home-exam. Results from the laboratory work along with oral presentations, written reports and a written individual home-exam will constitute the basis for the examination of learning outcome 4. Detailed assessment criteria can be found in the study instructions.

A student who fails to achieve a passing grade in the course examination will be given the opportunity to be re-examined twice according to same course content and with the same requirements. In addition, students also have the right to be examined on the same course the next time the course is offered according to the same regulations. If the course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student has a right to re-examination on two occasions within one year, based on the syllabus that was in place at the time the student registered for the course. Examination and re-examination take place at the times specified in the schedule.

Cooper GM, Hausman RE, (2013) The Cell: A Molecular Approach, 6th edition. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, Inc., pp. 745.

Scientific articles will be added.

The course coordinator/examiner is responsible for ensuring that two course evaluations will be conducted for the course. A preliminary course evaluation will be conducted upon the completion of half of the course. The results will be compiled and relayed to the students as soon as possible. The results will be presented on the course website and will be relayed to students during lesson time. A summary course evaluation will be conducted in connection with the completion of the course. The course coordinator will relay the results to the students at a prearranged time. Memory notes from the feedback, including proposals for changes to the course, will be documented and made available on the course website, and will also be relayed to the students who begin the course the next time it is given.