Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning
This specialisation focuses on the mechanisms of health and disease at the level of the organism, the animal level. The relation between morphology, function and regulation of function is central in this specialisation.
The specialisation in a nutshell
Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning is a fundamental specialisation looking into mechanisms and processes at all levels of physiology: from molecules to organs to whole animals. In this specialisation the functioning of animals is studied to acquire animal or computer models for health, disease resistance, growth and aging.
This specialisation has five thesis tracks:
- Animal Breeding and Genetics (ABG)
- Cell Biology and Immunology (CBI)
- Experimental Zoology (EZO)
- Human and Animal Physiology (HAP)
- Host-Microbe Interactomics (HMI)
Below you can read more about the courses provided in the specialisation Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning. The online study handbook provides detailed information.
Courses ABG
Genomics (ABG30306)
The course discusses the structure and function of genomes of living organisms from all kingdoms.
Modern Statistics for the Life Sciences (ABG30806)
In this course students will learn about a number of statistical models and associated methods for statistical inference. Applications of models and methods in quantitative genetics and epidemiology will be discussed.
Courses CBI
Development and Healthy Aging (HAP31306)
This course highlights three related areas of science relevant to development and healthy aging, namely muscle origin and function, energy homeostasis and immunology.
Human and Veterinary Immunology (CBI30306)
The aim of this course is to implement knowledge of the functioning of the immune system at both cellular and organ level and its evolutionary development.
Courses EZO
Development and Healthy Aging (HAP31306)
This course highlights three related areas of science relevant to development and healthy aging, namely muscle origin and function, energy homeostasis and immunology.
Choose (at least) one of the following courses:
Functional Zoology (EZO30806):
This course focuses on the theoretical basics and practical experiments
in the quantitative analysis of the functioning of animals.
Developmental Biology of Animals (EZO30306):
This course teaches you how to design, execute and analyze experiments
in the field of developmental biology, related to the research lines of the
Experimental Zoology group.
Courses HAP
Development and Healthy Aging (HAP31306)
This course highlights three related areas of science relevant to development and healthy aging, namely 1) embryonic development and early life programming, 2) mitochondrial muscle function and metabolic health, and 3) immunology and immunomodulation.
Choose (at least) one of the following courses:
Brain, Hormones and Metabolism (HAP30806)
Physiology of the brain, aging, neurodegenerative diseases and brain-peripheral organ communication are highlighted in this course. A thesis-preparing research linked to these topics will be executed using brain, muscle or intestinal cells.
Molecular Regulation of Health and Disease (HAP31806)
This course focuses on regulatory (molecular, biochemical and cellular) mechanisms that have a central role in human and animal health.
Courses HMI
Molecular Regulation of Health and Disease (HAP31806)
This course focuses on regulatory (molecular, biochemical and cellular) mechanisms that have a central role in human and animal health.
Optional courses:
Microbial Disease Mechanisms (HMI50306)
In this course the molecular biology of the interactions of humans, and animals with causal agents of diseases will be addressed, with a focus on bacterial pathogens.
Commensal and Pathogen Host-Microbe Interactions in the Intestine (HMI30306)
The course aims to teach students the concepts involved in research on host microbe interactions and includes a useful practical that provides background in, and basics of, applied microbiome data handling.
Thesis and Internship
A thesis or internship project for the specialisation Molecule, Cell and Organ Functioning is conducted at the ABG, CBI, EZO, HAP or HMI chair group and results in a scientific report and a presentation. A thesis project usually links up with ongoing research at one of these research groups or is conducted in cooperation with commercial or (non-)governmental organisations. At the websites of the different chair groups, you can find more information about research topics.