CLB-30306 Cell Biology and Advanced Imaging Technologies

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures20
Literature study10
Practical intensively supervised60
Tutorial10
Self-study14
Course coordinator(s)prof. dr. ME Janson
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. AR van der Krol
dr. ing. JW Borst
prof. dr. ME Janson
Examiner(s)prof. dr. ME Janson
dr. ir. AR van der Krol
dr. ing. JW Borst

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

CBI-10306 Cell Biology or equivalent.

Continuation courses:

Thesis CLB, BIC, PPH, MIB, MOB-30806 Regulation of Plant Development.

Contents:

This course has a maximum number of participants. The deadline for registration is one week earlier than usual. See 2014/2015 Academic Year (www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Agenda-Calendar-Academic-Year.htm) -> Registration for Courses 2014-2015.

Advanced light microscopy and reporter gene techniques are indispensable for modern day's mechanistic studies on cell functioning and cell organization. New microscopy technologies and digital imaging allow us to study dynamic processes in living cells at shorter time scales and with higher spatial resolution. In this practical course the principles and cell biological application of different microscopy techniques will be studied. Topics include (green) fluorescent proteins (e.g. GFP) and luciferase reporter activity, widefield and confocal fluorescence microscopy, differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC), polarization microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). These techniques will be applied during the course to study the dynamics of intercellular organization; promoter activity during hormone treatment and circadian rhythm in plants; and transcription factor activity and molecular interactions of membrane proteins. An important aspect of the course is data reduction and data analysis. How can digital image processing be applied to extract quantitative data for comparison with quantitative models?
Note: This is a course with a maximal capacity of 40 students. Students are accepted in the order of: 1) students for which this course is compulsory; 2) students for which this course is restricted optional in their programme; 3) students for which the course is part of their minor; 4) students for which this is a free choice course. The last open spots are given to students in order of their registration. The deadline for course registration is one week before the deadline of other courses.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students can:
- explain principles of light microscopy techniques and reporter methods;
- identify the components of advanced light microscopes and know the basics of their operation;
- extract quantitative data from digital images;
- process data and compare results with provided quantitative models on molecular and cell biological processes;
- critically evaluate the use of light microscopy and analysis methods in literature;
- write a short paper on a conducted cell biological experiment and present the work orally;
- discuss the presented cell biological processes in a mechanistic manner;
- select appropriate microscopy techniques for cell biological work.

Activities:

- lectures;
- use a computer module to actively simulate the use of fluorescence microscopes;
- conduct experiments using advanced microscopes and cell preparations (experiments are compulsory);
- use computer programs for data handling and processing;
- literature research and participation in small literature discussion groups;
- write a report and present the work.

Examination:

- written test with primarily open questions that assess your understanding of the lecture topics and the performed practical experiments (75%). The written exam needs a minimal mark of 5.5 to pass;
- a report on one of the performed practical experiments, written in teams of 2 students, is assessed for style of writing, line of argumentation, clarity of presentation, incorporation of study material from the course, and discussion (20%);
- a combined mark is given for the oral presentation and participation during contact hours (5%).

Literature:

A syllabus will be provided at the first day of the course. MyPortal pages contain lecture slides, background literature and student reports.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: BBIBiologyBScA: Cell and Molecular Biology2AF
Restricted Optional for: MBIBiologyMScI: Plant Adaptation2AF
MBTBiotechnologyMScA: Cellular/Molecular Biotechnology2AF
MPBPlant BiotechnologyMScA: Functional Plant Genomics2AF
MinorPeriod
Compulsory for: WUBNTBSc Minor Bionanotechnology2AF
Restricted Optional for: WUEPSBSc Minor Experimental Plant Sciences2AF