Frontiers of Cell Biology

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

This subject will bring students to the forefront of modern cell biology, and provide a broad overview of plant and animal cell biology. We expect that a student who completes this subject will understand the major questions of cell biology, the tools that are being used by cell biologists, how knowledge relates to experiment, how data in cell biology is interpreted and how cell biology is being used in pure and applied research.

Topics to be covered include:

• the importance and applications of cell biology;

• regulation of cell phenotype, cell transformation;

• recombinant protein technology;

• plant and animal genetic manipulation; transgenesis;

• molecular basis of cell interactions; applications of plant and animal cell culture;

• human cloning, stem cells, gene therapy and cell transplantation; and

• exploitation and commercialisation of cell biology, and ethical issues.

At the completion of this subject, students should have:

• an advanced level of understanding of the ways in which phenotype can be manipulated to explore cell and organ function, and in biotechnology of plants and animals;

• knowledge of the applications of cell biology in research, industry and human welfare, and policy and regulatory issues relevant to cell biology and biotechnology;

• enhanced presentation skills;

• developed problem-solving skills;

• the ability to think critically, and organise knowledge from consideration of the lecture material;

• learnt to adopt new ideas from participation in the lecture program;

• the ability to present a rational summary of the scientific argument presented in the lecture series; and

• the ability to present a well-organised and lucid argument.