34812 - Molecular and Cell Bioengineering (2nd cycle)

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Docente: Stefano Severi
  • Credits: 9
  • SSD: ING-INF/06
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Stefano Severi (Modulo 1) Stefano Severi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Biomedical Engineering (cod. 8198)

Learning outcomes

The course introduces students to the main methods and technologies for the analysis of biological processes on molecular and cellular scales. The student learns to develop computer models for numerical simulations and improves its attitude to abstract the experimental observation. Case studies concern: the enzymatic kinetic, competitive and cooperative molecular interactions, cellular excitability. The experimental methods used in cellular electrophysiology are also reviewed. The student acquires specific knowledge on physio-pathological mechanisms of cardiac electrophysiology and becomes able to analyse them through a multiscale computational approach.

Course contents

Cellular constituent structure and functions

Molecular reaction

Metabolic network

Gene regulation

Syntetic biology

Elements of dynamic system theory

Elements of bifurcation theory

Chaos and complexity

Intracellular calcium kinetics

Ion channels

Cellular excitability: nervous and cardiac cellules

Molecular mechanics at the base of information transmission

Readings/Bibliography

Books used to prepare lectures
J. Keener and J. Sneyd, “Mathematical physiology” 

Z. Sballasi, J. Stelling, V. Periwal, "System Modeling in cellular Biology"
K.E. Drexler, “Nanosystems”
E. A. Rietman, “Molecular Engineering of Nanosystems”
M. Scherge and S. Gorb, “Biological Micro- and  Nano-tribology”
M. Heller and A. Guttman, “Integrated microfabricated biodevices”
J. M. Bower and H. Bolouri, “Computational modelling of genetic and biochemical networks”

C. Branden and J. Tooze, “Introduzione alla struttura delle proteine”
D. Voet, "Fundamentals of Biochemistry"
Hille, “Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes”

Teaching methods

Lectures. Pratical in computational biological laboratory (8 hours at least) ; Pratical in Molecular and cellular Engineering Laboratory.

Assessment methods

Written test and Interview at the end of the course.

Teaching tools

Molecular and Cellular Engineering Lab "Silvio Cavalcanti".

Biological Computational Lab.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Severi