LearningLabs

What is the basic unit of life? What makes a cell? And how do cells form tissues and functional organs? These questions are universally addressed in high-school science curricula throughout Europe. Besides learning about the composition of cells, students need to understand the concept that living cells occupy the precise midpoint between the molecular and macroscopic scales.

In order to understand how organisms are built and how they function, scientists need to understand the molecular mechanisms and physical principles that give rise to cellular organisation and function. All cells (including prokaryotes) are divided into functional domains, each with different molecular compositions. In addition, eukaryotes have compartments such as the nucleus, the cytoskeleton and the endomembrane system. The mechanisms and principles that underlie the organisation and function of these different compartments and the distribution of specific molecules to each cellular sub-system are one of the challenging topics in modern life science research. In order to assemble cells into tissues, organs and even complete organisms, highly orchestrated processes, such as cell-cell communication, are needed.

The course took a close look at the composition of single cells and how these basic building blocks are assembled into higher-order structures such as tissues, organs and whole organisms.

In addition, course participants had the chance to learn about and acquire strategies to conduct an effective literature search. Getting an idea of the current research that is going on in the life sciences and how it adds to our ever-growing pool of knowledge is key to effectively transferring the results of modern research into school classrooms.

During the 3 day-course teachers had the opportunity to:

• Review and compare the molecular structure of cells - ranging from prokaryotic to eukaryotic cells
• Learn about the basic features necessary to assemble cells into tissues
• Perform various activities related to cell biological questions
• Look at selected techniques scientists use to study cells and their basic components
• Become familiar with strategies to effectively locate and retrieve scientific literature