Learning outcomes

Within the study program, biochemistry and cell biology UEs contribute to the acquisition of the following knowledge:
1) Knowledge :
Knowledge and understanding of basic scientific concepts useful in medicine;
Knowledge and understanding of the normal functioning of the human organism, particularly at the molecular and cellular levels;
Know and understand the major pathophysiological mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels;
Know and understand the interactions between the human organism and the living and non-living elements present within it and in its environment ;
2) Skills:
Ability to take a multidisciplinary, cross-disciplinary approach to a medical problem;
Ability to read, understand and synthesize a scientific article;
Ability to find, prioritize and critically analyze relevant scientific information;
Learn to follow an experimental protocol and write a rigorous scientific report using an appropriate vocabulary.
3) Personal skills :
Demonstrate curiosity about scientific research and the scientific process;
Develop the ability to work as part of a team, showing respect for peers and other healthcare professionals;

Goals

By the end of the course, students will have
- will have developed their knowledge and understanding of the normal functioning of the human organism at the molecular and cellular level, and will have acquired a mastery of the scientific aspect of disease, also at the molecular and cellular level ;
More specifically, for the Biochemistry and Cell Biology IV UE : 
- master the main metabolic pathways and the signalling pathways involved in regulating them (identify and explain the role of the players involved in these pathways, describe how these pathways work, how they are regulated at various levels, and their general functions and possible interconnections), and thus acquire an integrated view of the main metabolic pathways
- identify, illustrate and describe the chemistry of the main metabolic reactions
- be able to explain and demonstrate, on the basis of selected examples, the diversity of repercussions that can result from a punctual dysfunction in a metabolic pathway or at the level of a cellular process (signaling pathway, autophagy, protein rearrangement, intracellular traffic, etc.).
- have acquired a sufficient knowledge base to be able to read a scientific article on metabolism
- read and understand scientific data from the literature, presented in diagrammatic or graphic form
- be able to identify and explain the molecular basis of selected examples of human disease
- have deepened their understanding of various aspects of the subject through practical manipulations carried out in the laboratory
- be able to apply a range of biochemistry and cell biology analysis techniques (practical work)
- follow an experimental protocol 
- be able to analyze experimental results, represent them graphically, and write a rigorous scientific report using appropriate vocabulary
- have developed the ability to work as part of a team

 

Content

- DNA metabolism - RNA metabolism - Regulation of gene expression - Biochemistry of ROS - Cellular differentiation - Protein metabolism/proteostasis - Special lipid metabolism - Lipoprotein metabolism - Functional biochemistry

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra lectures, power point presentations, use of blackboard and/or computer graphic tablet. Practical work in the lab.

The teaching and assessment arrangements for the teaching units have been drafted to reflect the situation at the start of the academic year. However, these arrangements may be subject to change as the covid-19 health crisis develops. Students will be informed of any change in the general situation (switch to partial or full distance learning) by the UNamur authorities, while changes specific to each teaching unit will be communicated to them by the teachers, via webcampus

Assessment method

Theoretical part: written exam with MCQs and/or open questions. Practical part (TPs): written examination including exercises in calculation, reflection and interpretation of results. The grade may be adjusted according to the results of the entrance tests (described below), the behaviour of the student in the practical room and the quality of the reports submitted at the end of the session. The global mark of the teaching unit will take into account the mark obtained in the theoretical examination and the mark of the practical work with a weighting of 17/3 (17 for the theoretical part, 3 for the practical part). Practical work is compulsory. Students are requested to respect the timetable established by the secretariat. In case of time conflicts or long-standing medical appointments, students should contact Mrs. I. Hamer to change groups. Hamer (isabelle.hamer@unamur.be) to make a change of group. No changes will be accepted without prior authorisation from the assistant. In case of absence for unforeseen medical reasons, students must send a copy of the medical certificate to Mrs. I. Hamer as soon as possible, at the latest on the first day of the course. Hamer as soon as possible, and in any case within one week of resuming activities. A make-up session will then be organised. Absence from a single practical session will be penalised by a loss of 3 points out of 20 in the final mark of the teaching unit. If a student does not attend two or three practical sessions, he/she will not be allowed to register for the theoretical examination of the course, neither in the first nor in the second session. Before each lab session, students will be asked to carefully read a pdf file containing theoretical concepts and an experimental protocol and then answer a few questions on the subject. The pdf file and the questionnaire will be available on WebCampus one week before the lab session. This questionnaire is an entry test. Wearing a laboratory apron is mandatory. The students who will have to repeat the theoretical exam in the second session will be exempted from the practical part if they have obtained a practical mark equal or superior to 10/20 in the first session. The mark of the teaching unit will be calculated according to the same weighting 17/3 and will integrate the TP mark obtained in the first session. The students who will have to retake the theory exam in the second session will also have to retake a written exam on the practical work subject if they have obtained a practical work mark lower than 10/20 in the first session. The mark of the teaching unit will be calculated according to the same 17/3 weighting and will include the practical work mark obtained in the second session. Students who will have to repeat the course in a subsequent year and who have obtained a mark of 10/20 or more in the practical course will be exempted from the practical course. The mark they will receive for the course will be the mark obtained in the theory examination only. However, if the student so requests at the beginning of the term, he/she may retake the practical examination. In this case, the 17/3 weighting will be applied with the new PT mark. Students who will have to repeat the course in a subsequent year and who have obtained a mark of less than 10/20 in the practical course will be required to retake the practical examination but without repeating the laboratory exercises. A revision session will be organised during the term to bring them up to standard. P.S. The exact modalities of the evaluation are subject to change when the examination timetable is drawn up, depending on the practical constraints that the faculty administration may face, on the evolution of the health crisis linked to COVID-19, or in case of illness/force majeure/employment with a training course, preventing the student from taking the examination on the date initially planned.

Sources, references and any support material

Specific materials uploaded to webcampus Reference books (not essential but recommended): - Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry (Nelson, Cox): Freeman - Harper Biochemistry (Murray, Bender, Botham, Kennelly, Rodwell, Weil): de boeck Pubmed

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Medicine Standard 0 7
Bachelor in Medicine Standard 2 7