Handbook home
Cellular Metabolism and Disease (BCMB30011)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinator
Associate Professor Heather Verkade
Administrative Coordination
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The interpretation of nutritional information relies on an understanding of how nutrients are metabolised and what can go wrong in disease states. The subject material covers the regulation of blood glucose concentration and the causes of diabetes; the generation of free-radicals and the importance of antioxidants in protecting proteins, lipids and DNA from oxidative damage; metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, neurons and immune cells; metabolism in the gut: the role of the microbiota; metabolomics and other research methods for the study of metabolism.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the subject the student should be able to:
- Describe the molecular basis of how humans handle nutrients via metabolism and compare these with disease states
- Explain the mechanisms and consequences of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, and in neurons and immune cells in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions
- Describe how the emerging field of metabolomics (the study of a range of metabolites in a cell or tissue) is being applied as a diagnostic tool, including a consideration of ethical issues such as study design, sample collection and data usage
- Explain how targeting critical events in metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells as the therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment
- Analyse experimental data to detect changes in metabolism
- Critically analyse of the current scientific literature on metabolomics and metabolic reprogramming in diseases.
Generic skills
Students will be provided with the opportunity to develop skills in critical thinking, particularly through researching a relevant topic and preparing a 1000-word essay assignment. They will learn to apply theoretical principles to the explanation of observations and acquire skills in time management.
Last updated: 31 January 2024