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Find out what you are made of” we are going to discover the fascinating and microscopic cell world. In the first part, we are going explore the "how different biological entities are separated from their surrounding, more specifically the cellular borders (membranes), how they are organized during duplication of cells, and their role in the communication with the outside environment.
We will then travel through the cell microtubules - the "cell skeleton”- which provide structure and shape to the all cellular life. Besides of skeleton role, microtubules have and important function in the detect…
We will then travel through the cell microtubules - the "cell skeleton”- which provide structure and shape to the all cellular life. Besides of skeleton role, microtubules have and important function in the detect…
Communication is key! - The complex interplay between structure and function
Prof. Sascha Hoogendoorn
(Assistant Professor, Department of Organic Chemistry and NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva)
Communication between cells is crucial for embryonic development and health. Cells receive many signals from their environment that need to be translated to responses inside the cell. To receive signals, cells use a special structure called the primary cilium, the cell’s ‘antenna’. How is the cilium build by cells? What are the consequences of disruption of such a tiny cellular structure? We dive into the structural elements of the cell and how these are used to build specialized compartments essential for cell communication, and, on a larger scale, for the correct formation of our body plan.
Creating the shapes of life in vitro
Prof. Aurelien Roux
(Professor of Biochemistry, University of Geneva)
Biological entities are separated from their environment by surfaces. For example, embryos are bounded by a cell monolayer. Epithelia are cell monolayers that separate organs from the external environment. These epithelia grow and fold during development to form organs. On a different scale, cells are bounded by a lipid bilayer. Cells have different processes such as division or membrane traffic for communication with the outside environment. To carry out these processes, the lipid bilayer is constantly remodeled, deforming, stretching, and changing fluidity.
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