Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Human Biology 2

Human Biology 2
6
7871
1
First semester
FB
Basic biomedical sciences relevant in dentistry
Genetics, Biochemicals and Molecular Biology
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

If the student is enrolled for the English track then classes for that subject will be taught in the same language.

Teaching staff


Dra. WRIGHT, Roni Helene Grace - rhgwright@uic.es

Dr. Roni Wright (rhgwright@uic.es)

Dr. Miguel Baena (mbaena@uic.es)

Introduction

The aim of this subject is to introduce students to the main molecular bases of cellular communication. To understand the behaviour of the cells as non-isolated units integrated in tissue, it is essential to know what happens in their interior and how this activity is influenced by the surrounding medium.

To this end, the students must know the cellular components, the transport mechanisms that regulate cell content, the signalling pathways that control mechanisms such as cell growth and proliferation, and the processes that can be triggered when this regulation is lost, such as in cancer. The final section of this subject, entitled "oral biology", goes deeper into those aspects of biochemistry and molecular and cell biology which directly affect dental practice as well as the understanding of the normal and pathological workings of the organs affected. In order to introduce to and familiarise the students with scientific research applied to dentistry, they will carry out a work of critical reading and understanding of a scientific paper, which will be presented at the end of the semester in the form of a poster.

Related to this same objective, the course includes several practical sessions where the students will be introduced to, and carry out, some of the techniques used in both diagnosis and current biomedical research.

Pre-course requirements

Knowledge of Biology and Biochemistry at sixth-form level.

Objectives

Knowledge:

The aim of this course is to go deeper into the biochemical and molecular aspects upon which knowledge in any area of the health sciences is based.

On finishing this course, the student must know:

-The mechanism of communication between cells, the transmission of cellular signals, the molecular bases of division and cell death, and the biological mechanisms involved in cancer.

-The structure and composition of dental tissues.

-The basic principles that determine the inheritance of diseases affecting the oral and dental environment. 

Intellectual and practical skills: 

-Become familiar with the scientific method. 

-Promote reasoning and the discussion of problems. 

-Integrate knowledge into practical laboratory tasks. 

-Know the main sources of information and resources available to update the knowledge acquired. 

Attitude: 

This is the only semester in which the student will take a compulsory subject of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It is therefore intended that the student, upon finishing this subject, has understood the importance of this area of knowledge in the development of the other subjects of the degree and the Health Sciences in general, since any pathology of living beings is defined ultimately at the biochemical and molecular level.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 08 - Knowing how to share information with other healthcare professionals and how to work as part of a team.
  • 11 - Understanding the basic biomedical science Dentistry is based on in order to ensure that adequate dental healthcare is provided.
  • 12 - Understanding and recognising the structure and normal function of the stomatognathic apparatus, at a molecular, cellular, tissue and organic level, during the various stages of life.
  • 14 - Being aware of the general processes of the illness, including infection, inflammation, alterations in the immune system, degeneration, neoplasm, metabolic alterations and genetic disorders.
  • 18 - Being aware of, critically evaluating and knowing how to use sources of clinical and biomedical infomation in order to obtain, organise, interpret and communicate scientific and healthcare-related information.
  • 19 - Being aware of scientific methods and having the critical ability to evaluate established knowledge and innovative information. Being able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information in order to resolve problems, in accordance with scientific methods.
  • 33 - Knowing the morphology and function of the stomatognathic apparatus, including material on embriology, anatomy, histology and specific physiology
  • 34 - Knowing about scientific methods and having the critical ability to evaluate established knowledge and new information
  • 38 - Being aware of clinical and laboratory-based procedures and diagnostic tests, knowing their reliability and diagnostic viability and being competent in interpreting the results

Learning outcomes of the subject

  • 1.04 - Know the organization of our immune system: molecules, cells and organs
  • 1.09 - - Know the structure and function of communication and control systems, nervous system and endocrine
  • 1.10 - Know the structure and function of the organs and systems involved in maintaining the homeostasis of the human body. Circulatory, respiratory, digestive and urinary apparatus.
  • 1.19 - Solve clinical problems from deductions made from the basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the head and neck
  • 1.25 - Know the different tissues that make up the teeth, distribution and histologic features.
  • 1.30 - Understand the basic bio-medical sciences on which dentistry is based to ensure proper oral-dental care.
  • 1.31 - - Understand and recognize the structure and normal function of the stomatognatic apparatus at a molecular and cellular level
  • 1.32 - Will know the general processes of falling ill, including genetic alterations
  • 1.33 - Will know better the scientific method and will have critical capacity to assess the established knowledge and new information
  • 1.34 - Will get the rudiments to assess published basic research
  • 1.35 - Will manage better than at the beginning of the subject, contemporary information technologies
  • 1.36 - – Will know genetic diagnostic testing of laboratory, its reliability and diagnostic validity and begin to be able to interpret the results
  • 1.37 - Will value as necessary the knowledge throughout life
  • 1.38 - Will start to understand the biochemical behavior of the essential bio-materials for dental practice
  • 1.39 - Will learn the general processes of falling ill, including metabolic alterations.
  • 1.40 - Will know the clinical biochemistry tests, its reliability and diagnostic validity and begin to be able to interpret their results

Syllabus











Teaching and learning activities

In person



The contents of the course will be taught through the following activities:

  • Exposure of theory to all students in a single group.
  • Research work based on scientific bibliography: students will be provided with a publication based on a research work in the field of dentistry. The students, in groups, will have to read, understand and make a presentation to present the main results described in the publication.
  • Practical sessions: guided sessions in the laboratory in which the student will put into practice the knowledge acquired in the lectures regarding the most commonly used techniques in a Biochemistry laboratory.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



Partial exam: 10% of the final grade

scientific article: 20% of the final grade, attendance is mandatory.

Lab practices: 10% of the final grade. Attendance at practicals is compulsory.


Final exam: 60% of the final grade, being essential a minimum grade of 5 to make an average with the other parts of the course.


General points to take into account about the evaluation system:

  • To pass the course a minimum grade of 5 will be required in the final exam, and a minimum grade of 5 averaging all parts of the course.
  • Attendance to practicals is compulsory. Unexcused non-attendance to a practice session will be equivalent to a -0.5 of the total of the course. The non-excused non-attendance to 2 or 3 practice sessions will be equivalent to the automatic failure of the course.
  • The expulsion of a student from the laboratory classroom will mean the suspension of the course. It is obligatory to bring the lab coat, without it the student cannot do the laboratory practices, which would mean the suspension of the course.
  • The exams will be of type test with 4 options of answer, counting +1 the correct answers and -0.25 the mistakes
  • Attendance to the theoretical classes is not compulsory, but the attendees will be governed by the rules indicated by the professors.
  • Unexcused non-attendance to the obligatory sessions of "scientific article" sessions will result in a 0 in that part of the course.

  • Repeating students are not obliged to repeat the practical sessions or the clinical cases sessions. The grade obtained in both parts of the course in previous years will be kept.

  • Repeating students have the option of not taking the partial exam. In this case, the final exam of these repeaters will be equivalent to 70% of the total grade of the course.

Bibliography and resources

• ESSENTIAL CELL BIOLOGY. Alberts. B. et al. 4th edition.

• PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY. Lehninger. et al. 5th edition.

• THE CELL: A Molecular Approach. Cooper. G.M. et al. 6th Edition.

• MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY. Lodish. H et al. 5th edition.

Evaluation period

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:
  • E1 16/01/2025 A02 08:00h
  • E1 16/01/2025 A01 08:00h
  • E1 16/01/2025 A03 08:00h
  • R1 24/01/2025 A16 12:00h
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