HSS2305B: MOLECULAR

MECHANISMS OF DISEASE
Professor:

Dr. Keir Menzies

Assistant Professor
Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences
Credits:
3
Location:
FSS 1007
Tuesday 4-5:30 PM
Schedule:
Thursday 2:30-4:00 PM
Course Website:
Virtual Campus Blackboard Learn
h t t p s :/ / u o t t a wa .b la ckb o a r d . co
Office Hours: THN 217;
m/Thursday 4:00-5:00pm
Email:
kmenzies@uottawa.ca

HSS2305B
BLACKBOARD
LEARN

https://uottawa.blackboard.com/

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

WHO AM I?

http://health.uottawa.ca/people/menzies-keir

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

WHO AM I?

http:/www.keirmenzieslab.com

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

WHO ARE YOU?

Why are you sitting in your seat today?

Why are you registered for this course?
What are your career aspirations?
Why are you interested in Health and
Disease?

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

COURSE SYLLABUS

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

At the molecular level how does a cell, tissue or organ function? How
can alterations in these molecular mechanisms result in the
development, manifestation and progression of disease?

Introduction to the major processes in molecular biology of health conditions.

Examination of the ethical considerations and complex interactions of genetics,
environment and behaviour.

Prerequisites: BIOL1140(Introduction to Cell Biology); Prerequisite or co-requisite: HSS1100

(Microbiology and Immunology)

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course students will be expected to:
1. Identify the fundamental concepts of molecular biology
a)
b)
c)

Define molecular biology and describe how it relates to the fields of cellular
biology, genetics and biochemistry
Identify the various organelles within a cell and describe how they collaborate to
perform vital cell functions
Summarize general mechanisms through which a cell can respond to, and interact
with its environment

2. Summarize key molecular mechanisms underlying normal

cell function
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Define and describe cellular metabolism and respiration

Summarize key processes in DNA replication and repair
Explain how gene and protein expression is regulated within a cell
Identify key cell signalling pathways and describe how they regulate cell
function
Summarize key regulatory processes in the cell cycle and programmed cell
death

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course students will be expected to:
3. Contrast how irregularities in the key molecular mechanisms of
cell function can give rise to pathological conditions
4. Compare the influence of biological, social and
environmental factors on key molecular mechanisms of cell
function
5. Identify key technological advances that have been made
possible through our detailed understanding of cellular and
molecular biology
a)
b)
c)

Identify and describe scientific techniques routinely used within the field of
molecular biology
Summarize the recent technological advances that have evolved into important
molecular screening tools and therapeutics
Describe the ethical considerations associated with several of these technological

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

REQUIRED TEXT

Cell and Molecular Biology:

Concepts and
(6th, 7th or 8th Ed.)
Experiments
Gerald Karp

Additional resources such as

PDF files, videos, audio clips
etc. will be uploaded onto the
Blackboard Learn website.
You will be responsible for
reviewing this content.

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

EVALUATIONS
Evaluation

Weight of
final grade

Due date

In Class Quiz # 1

10%

September 29

In Class Assignment #1

5%

November 1

Mid term Exam

35%

November 3

In Class Quiz # 2

10%

November 17

In Class Assignment #2

5%

November 22

Final Exam

35%

TBA (Exams run Dec 10 to 22)

** Policy

on Missed Evaluations:

The dates listed above will not be changed for any reason. There will be no makeups scheduled unless a valid medical note is provided.

In class Quiz will be held during the first 20 min of class on the date indicated. If you are late
for class you will not be given the opportunity to re-write the quiz.

** The following are not valid reasons to miss any of the evaluations listed above:

My parents have booked me a train/plane ticket to go home and we cannot get our money back
I lost all of my notes
I have 3 other mid terms that week and wont have time to study
I couldnt access all of the readings

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

COURSE OUTLINE

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

COURSE OUTLINE

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

COURSE OUTLINE

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

CLASS CODE OF CONDUCT

We will strive to create and maintain a positive and productive learning

environment in which all persons treat each other with respect and
courtesy.

Cell Phones / Pagers

Use of cell phones in class is not permitted; they must be turned off or set to vibrate
mode. Pagers are permitted provided that ringers are silenced.

Laptops/Internet
Use of laptops and internet in class is permitted, however please be respectful of
your fellow classmates and your professor. You can check Facebook at home,
the classroom is not place for this!

Noise and Conversation

Please refrain from conversations and discussion during lectures out
of consideration for both the professor and your classmates.

HSS2305: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF

DISEASE

TEACHING APPROACH

LETS GET STARTED!

INTRODUCTION TO
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
CHAPTER 1
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Define molecular
biology
Explain how the field of molecular biology provides
understanding of how a cell functions when it is healthy and
conversely how it can explain the onset of disease
Identify key functions of a cell
Compare and contrast eukaryotic vs. prokaryotic cells
Identify important organelles and their functions in a eukaryotic
cell
Explain cellular differentiation and how this can be harnessed in
cell replacement therapy
Explain key concepts related to biology of viruses and how they
can be used therapeutically
Identify model organisms for the study of molecular biology

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?

At the heart of this course is Molecular Biology

So what is Molecular Biology?

Biovision Harvard Medical School

http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/
http://www.te

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
explores cells, their characteristics,
parts, and chemical processes
how molecules control a cells
activities and growth
pathways that provide the cells with
energy, facilitate processing
messages from outside the cell
itself, generate new proteins, and
replicate the cellular DNA genome
understanding the interactions
between the various systems of a
cell

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
The field overlaps with other areas of biology and
chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
understand how a healthy cell functions and how
disease begins to manifest in a cell at the molecular
level

Mysterious Black
Box

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
Yielded powerful techniques and tools which have
revolutionized diagnostics and treatment strategies

http://youtu.be/1N5kykm7054

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
Yielded powerful techniques and tools which have
revolutionized diagnostics and treatment strategies

WHAT IS
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY?
To understand the molecular machinery that runs a cell one
must have a solid understanding of basic cell biology

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Smallest unit of life
Whole cells can be removed from an organism and grown in a
lab

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Are highly complex and organized
Cellular activities highly controlled and remarkably precise
Less than 1 mistake/10 million nucleotides
incorporated
High degree of conservation in cellular organization and
function across species ex. A muscle cell wont look
like or be the shape of a liver cell
Molecular biology studies the complexities of cellular
machinery in action

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Possess a genetic program and the means to use it
Cells built according to a collection
of genes
Genes are the blueprint for:
Cellular structure
Directions for running of cellular
activities
Program for cellular replication

Also allow for mutations

variation

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Are capable of reproducing

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Acquire and utilize energy
Every biological
process requires
energy
Most energy goes
to breaking down
and rebuilding
macromolecules
and organelles
turnover

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Carry out a variety of chemical reactions
Most functions of a cell are carried out through chemical
reactions
All chemical reactions in a cell require enzymes
Molecules that greatly increase the rate of chemical
reactions
Cellular metabolism = sum of chemical reactions

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Engage in mechanical activity
Result of dynamic mechanical changes within a cell motor
proteins
Transport materials intracellular
Assemble and de-assemble structures
Cellular motility

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Respond to stimuli
Receptors on cell surface respond to substances in their
environment in a very specific way
Hormones
Growth factors
Extracellular material
Receptors provide pathways through which external stimuli
can evoke specific responses in target cells
Alter metabolic activities
Cellular movement
Cell death

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cells:
Are capable of self-regulation
Cells are robust protected from dangerous fluctuations in
composition and behavior
Importance of this concept becomes apparent in disease
these regulatory mechanisms fail

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Cellular activities as a sequential series of events or
chain reaction

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
2 types of living cells

Prokaryotes

Bacteria

Eukaryotes

Protists
Fungi
Plants
Animals

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Distinguished by size and internal structures

REVIEW OF
CELLULAR BIOLOGY

EUKARYOTIC
CELL BIOLOGY

Nucleus
Chromatin DNA + proteins
Nucleolus produces ribosomes

Rough ER
synthesis of proteins

Smooth ER
synthesis of lipids and membrane proteins

Golgi complex
packaging macromolecules for transport

Mitochondria
provide the energy

Lysosomes
hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion

Cytoskeleton
maintain cell shape, cell motility, intracellular transport

Plasma membrane
controlled entry and exit of cell, interaction
with environment

CELL SPECIALIZATION
Unicellular
eukaryotes
complex single-celled
organisms

Multicellular
eukaryotes
dierent cell
types for dierent
functions.

CELL SPECIALIZATION
Differentiation = less
specialized cell becomes
a more specialized cell
type
Occurs during embryonic
development
Despite differentiation,
cells have many features
in common.

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS
DIFFERENTIATION

Cell Replacement
Therapy
Adult stem cells
Embryonic stem
(ES) cells
Inducible pluripotent
stem (iPS) cells

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS
DIFFERENTIATION

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS
DIFFERENTIATION

Cell Replacement
Therapy
Adult stem cells
Embryonic stem
(ES) cells
Inducible pluripotent
stem (iPS) cells
Synthetic biology
build a new cell de
novo

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS
DIFFERENTIATION

http://igem.org/About

BASIC
PROPERTIES OF
Cells are commonly measured
CELLS

in units of micrometers (1 m =
106 meter) and nanometers (1
nm = 109 meter)

Cell size is limited by:

volume of cytoplasm that can be
supported by the genes in the
nucleus
volume of cytoplasm that can be
supported by exchange of nutrients
distance over which substances
can efficiently travel through
the cytoplasm via diffusion

VIRUSES
pathogens
intracellular obligate
parasites not living
require cellular
machinery of host cell to
reproduce and
metabolize
outside a cell = virion
inanimate
macromolecular package
Genetic material (DNA,
RNA)
Protein capsule

RNA-based Tobacco mosaic

virus (TMV)

VIRUSES
Viroids cause disease by interfering with gene expression
in host cells
Interact with host via surface receptors
Specificity for a certain host cell and species

Adenovir

Human
immunodecie

T-even

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS VIRAL
INFECTIONS
Gene therapy
Use viruses as vectors to introduce therapeutic genes
into cells

USING MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY TO
HARNESS VIRAL
INFECTIONS

J.Cehajic-Kapetanovic (2015)
Current Biology 25 (16); 21112122

MODEL ORGANISMS
IN MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY

Escherichia coli
(bacterium)

Saccharomyces
(yeast)

C. elegans
(nematode)

Drosophila (fruit
y)

Arabidopsis (mustard
plant)

Mus musculus
(mouse)

MODEL ORGANISMS
IN MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY

https://youtu.be/Jj5QlYlE66w?list=PL94A4609B9C571458

QUESTIONS
?