HAP-31306 Development and Healthy Aging

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

EZO-10306 Human and Animal Biology I and HAP-10306 Principles of Human Physiology or HAP-10306 and HAP-21303 Integrated Human Physiology; CBI-10306 Cell Biology or equivalent.

Continuation courses:

EZO-30306 Developmental Biology of Animals; EZO-30806 Functional Zoology; HAP-30306 Nutritional Physiology; HAP-30806 Integrated Neuroendocrinology; CBI-30306 Human and Veterinary Immunology; CBI-30806 Immunotechnology; HAP-31806 Molecular Regulation of Health and Disease.

Contents:

The course highlights three related areas of science relevant to development and healthy aging, corresponding to the expertise of the chair groups involved, namely muscle origin and function, energy homeostasis, and immunology. This course has a mechanistic focus and provides a systems view from a molecular level, via organelle, cell, and organ to whole body level. State-of-the-art knowledge and methodology will be explained using current literature and ongoing research. The course includes practical's on design of animal intervention experiments, in which the different knowledge fields of the course will be integrated.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to:
- explain and discuss the origin and functioning of muscle tissue;
- predict how mitochondria and mitochondrial functions impact aging at a mechanistic level;
- illustrate the role of adipose tissue and muscle in age-related changes in (metabolic) health at a physiological and mechanistic level;
- assess how immunological mechanisms underlying aberrant and beneficial immune responses contribute to health in various stages of life;
- integrate current methodology and biological knowledge to design interventions for a functional improvement of the muscle, metabolism, and immune system.

Activities:

- lectures;
- working groups;
- practical's;
- computer learning;
- self study.

Examination:

- case presentations (30%);
- written examination (70%).

Literature:

Reader and handouts of the lectures.
Information on Blackboard.