aVLTB03 Significant topics in Medical Biology

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Synchronous online teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Kateřina Cetkovská, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Ing. Lívia Eiselleová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Kateřina Francová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
prof. MUDr. Iva Slaninová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Kateřina Straková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. MUDr. Iva Slaninová, Ph.D.
Department of Biology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: prof. MUDr. Iva Slaninová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Biology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Prerequisites (in Czech)
aVLBI0222c Medical Biology II - pract. || aZLBI0222c Biology II-pract.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 4/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the subject is to expand and practice the knowledge of fundamental topics of medical biology gained in subjects Biology lecture I and II - cellular and molecular biology with applications of acquired knowledge in clinical medicine. We will especially focus on following topics:
- mechanisms of cellular regulation (cell division, cell death, DNA damage repair, gene expression, cell signalling)
- Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics, basic principles of human genetics
- mechanisms of cancer development
- basics of genomics
- basics of immunogenetics
- basics of epigenetics
- basic principles of gene therapy, stem cells and tissue engineering
- basics of developmental and evolutionary biology
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- describe and explain cell architecture and cellular organelles, describe and explain DNA replication
- explain basic processes taking place in cells (gene expression, signalization, cell differentiation, cell division, cell death)
- explain the relationship between malfunctioning cellular processes and the development of diseases
-explain how gene mutations and chromosome aberrations cause human diseases and illustrate it with examples, explain and apply basic principles of human genetics
- explain the role of medical biology in the development of modern therapies (e.g. molecular therapies for cancer)
- explain the basic principles of current methods used in gene therapy and cell therapies
- be knowledgeable in basic molecular biology methods and modern approaches to studying various diseases and personalised medicine (genomics)
Syllabus
Architecture of cells and tissues. DNA – gene expression and its regulation. Signalisation – signalling cascades. Cell cycle and its regulation. Mitosis. Carcinogenesis (hallmarks, oncogenes, tumour suppressors, oncoviruses). Apoptosis. Principles of immunity response. Basic methods of molecular biology. Human genome. Molecular medicine, gene therapy. Mutagenesis, DNA repair. Epigenetics. Meiosis, karyotype. Chromosomal aberration. Mendelian inheritance. Non-mendelian inheritance – multifactorial inheritance. Gene linkage. Stem cells, developmental biology. ROPOT test.
Literature
    not specified
  • ALBERTS, Bruce; Karen HOPKIN; Alexander JOHNSON; David Owen MORGAN; Martin C. RAFF; Keith ROBERTS and Peter WALTER. Essential cell biology. International student editio. New York: W.W Norton, 2019, xxxii, 734. ISBN 9780393680393. info
  • SNUSTAD, D. Peter and Michael J. SIMMONS. Principles of genetics. Sixth edition. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2012, xviii, 766. ISBN 9780470903599. info
Teaching methods
Problem-based learning of biology and genetics, reflecting basic knowledge from previous courses of Medical Biology I and II (Biology I and II).
The important molecular biology and genetics topics will be presented (lecture-like mode) followed by a discussion (seminar-like mode). Students will have the opportunity to discuss topics that are usually more difficult to understand. Online materials and tests such as KviS and Drill will be used.
Assessment methods
Conditions for awarding the course-unit credits:
Attendance at lectures (3 absences are tolerated)
Passing the ROPOT test (the score achieved is not a criterion for awarding credits)
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/med/podzim2025/aVLTB03/index.qwarp
Lectures take place every week. We recommend following the Interactive syllabus of the course, where students can find lectures presentations and all relevant information (schedule, substitutions, public holidays, etc.), and also links to animations and videos relevant to the topic: https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/med/podzim2025/aVLTB03/index.qwarp
The course is also listed under the following terms autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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