Stem cells 1400-237KM

The course is designed for the students who are interested in stem cell issues, including their application in science and medicine. The subject is divided into lecture and practical classes.

Complete and up-to-date knowledge of different types of stem cells including pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells, and cancer stem cells will be presented during the lectures. The history of stem cell discovery and isolation, their characteristics, methods of analysis as well as the examples of stem cell applications in science and medicine will be discussed.

The following issues will be discussed during lectures:
• formation of stem cells during embryo development,
• regulation of cell cycle and molecular mechanisms regulating functions of stem cells,
• the history of derivation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells,
• characteristics and examples of application of selected types of stem cells in biology and medicine – hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, satellite stem cells,
• the role of the niche in regulation of stem cells functions,
• tumor stem cells, their history, methods of identification and the characteristics.

Selected methods of isolation, culture, and analysis of different types of stem cells will be used during practical classes. Students will be divided in groups. The tasks will be presented and explained by the instructor.

The programme of the practical classes encompasses:
- presentation of the rules that are mandatowy in cell culture laboratory,
- preparation of materials and reagents for cell culture,
- culture of pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells),
- isolation and culture of cells obtained from adult tissues (bone marrow stem cells, skeletal muscle stem cells),
- isolation and culture of mouse embryonic fibroblasts,
- performing of the selected analysis of stem cells – assessment of cell viability, karyotyping, cytological stainings, protein immunolocalization, confocal microscopy, analysis of histological sections of teratomas.

The course can serve as a continuation of "Basics of animal cell culture for biotechnologists" or "Animal cell culture" courses.

Main fields of studies for MISMaP

biology
biotechnology

Type of course

elective courses

Mode

Classroom

Requirements

Cell Biology
Cell Biology M

Prerequisites

Animal Cell Culture
Animal Tissue Culture in vitro
Basics of animal cell culture for biotechnologists

Prerequisites (description)

1. The requirements for admission: Completion of "Cell biology" course is required. 2. The organisation of the course: Lecture (30 h) and practical classes (60 h). The lecture will be presented during the whole semester. Practical classes will be held in the first part of the winter semester (2 times per week, 4 hours each meeting, 8 weeks). Students admitted into the course may resign from this, but no later than prior to the first class. The student is kindly asked to inform the instructor about the resignation as fast as possible to facilitate the admission of another student in his/her place. The absence during the first class will be understood as the resignation from the course except the situation when the instructor will be informed prior to the first class. Students who will be late more than 15 minutes are not allowed to participate in the classes. 3. The completion of the course: Lecture - written exam Practical classes - oral exam Lecture: The written exam can be taken only by the students who completed practical classes and passed the oral exam. In order to pass written exam the students need to present their knowledge on the issues presented and discussed during lectures. Practical classes: The oral exam covers the questions regarding issues discussed during practical classes. The oral exam can be taken only by the students who completed practical classes. The completion of the classes requires both the presence and the activity of the student, i.e. proper realization of the all required tasks. Decision about the completion of the classes depends on the instructor.

Course coordinators

Karolina Archacka
Maria Ciemerych-Litwinienko

Learning outcomes

Biology
Student presents deep knowledge in selected areas of animal biology, medical biology, and cell engineering.
Student demonstrates the knowledge on the rules of research organization, data collecting, and research tools application.
Student can plan experiment using selected techniques in cell biology.
Student can assess the information concerning stem cells issues.
Student is able to use objective sources of scientific information and follows the rules of scientific deduction when deciding the practical questions.
Student actively updates his knowledge on life sciences and its practical applications.
Student is aware of dangers connected with the use of research techniques and is responsible for keeping the proper conditions of work.
Student implements and develops the principles of professional conduct.
Student recognizes the value and is able to properly transfer the information regarding the current achievements in biology to society.

Biotechnology
Student demonstrates up-to-date knowledge on major areas of biotechnology, scientific terminology in cell biology, both in Polish and in English, and also the newest research and its application in biotechnology and medicine.
Student presents deep knowledge in selected areas of animal biotechnology, medical biotechnology, and cell engineering.
Student demonstrates the knowledge on the rules of research organization, data collecting, and research tools application.
Student can plan experiment using selected techniques in biotechnology
Student can assess the information concerning stem cells issues.
Student is able to use objective sources of scientific information and follows the rules of scientific deduction when deciding the practical questions.
Student actively updates his knowledge on life sciences and its practical applications.
Student is aware of dangers connected with the use of research techniques and is responsible for keeping the proper conditions of work.
Student implements and develops the principles of professional conduct.
Student recognizes the value and is able to properly transfer the information regarding the current achievements in biotechnology to society.

Assessment criteria

Lecture - written exam
Practical classes - oral exam

Lecture:
The written exam can be taken only by the students who completed practical classes and passed the oral exam. Knowledge on the issues discussed lectures is required to pass the written exam.

Practical classes:
The oral exam encompasses the questions regarding issues discussed during practical classes. Knowledge of them is required to pass the oral exam. The oral exam can be taken only by the students who completed practical classes. The completion of the classes requires both the presence and the activity of the student , i.e. proper realization of the tasks. Decision about the completion of the classes is made by the instructor.

Practical placement

not applicable

Bibliography

• Advances in Cell Biology 37, No. 1, 2010, edited by M.A. Ciemerych and J. Dulak,
• Advances in Cell Biology 52, No. 2, 2013, edited by M.A. Ciemerych,
• Essentials Of Stem Cell Biology, edited by Robert Lanza, Elsevier, 2009,

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1400-237KM in USOSweb