MEDFL5246 – Biology of Ageing
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Biology of Ageing’ covers evolutionary and mechanistic theories of ageing; comparative biology of ageing; the new model organism genetics of lifespan (eg C. elegans, Drosophila, mouse); methods in ageing research (eg functional genomic analysis); the biology of dietary restriction; cellular senescence and senotherapy, telomeres and cancer; ageing-related disease; the biology of insulin signalling, energy handling and associated diseases (eg diabetes and obesity); stem cell ageing; prospects for treatments for ageing; and social and ethical issues relating to research on ageing.
This course is inspired by the ‘Biology of Ageing’ course (BIOL0022) initiated and lead by NO-Age Network (www.noage100.com) International member Prof. David Gems, University College London, UK.
Learning outcome
- To attain a good grasp of the various facets of the biology of ageing and longevity (evolutionary biology, biodemography, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, endocrinology, etc) and the relationship between them.
- To understand the main theories of ageing, in terms of evolutionary and proximate mechanisms.
- To understand some of the major diseases of ageing, and their etiologies in the underlying biology of ageing.
- Discuss controversial ethical, philosophical and social issues relating to this work.
Admission to the course
The course is reserved for students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.
Students sign up for classes and exam to this course in StudentWeb.
Applicants will upon registration receive an immediate reply in StudentWeb as to whether a seat at this course is granted or not.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Mandatory work/activity conducted in advance: to read the below papers ahead:
- The hallmarks of ageing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23746838/
- The quest to slow ageing through drug discovery: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32467649/
- A research agenda for ageing in China in the 21st century (2nd edition): Focusing on basic and translational research, long-term care, policy and social networks: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32971255/
Recommended previous knowledge
Background on biology, biochemistry, or other related topics.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with MF9246 – Biology of Ageing.
- 4 credits overlap with MF9245 – Biology of Ageing (continued).
- 4 credits overlap with MEDFL5245 – Biology of Ageing (continued).
Teaching
The course is organized as a 5 days course.
The course will be composed of around 23 lectures by leading researchers in their fields. The course coordinators are Associate Prof. Evandro Fei Fang and Prof. Hilde L. Nilsen.
Indicative lecture topics:
- Lecture 01: Introduction to ageing
- Lecture 02: Mechanistic theories of ageing (ageing theories)
- Lecture 03: Damage and maintenance
- Lecture 04: Evolution of ageing
- Lecture 05: Comparative biology of ageing
- Lecture 06: The biology of immortality
- Lecture 07: Studies of ageing using model organisms
- Lecture 08: Normal ageing and Premature ageing diseases
- Lecture 09: DNA damage and telomere attrition
- Lecture 10: Senescence
- Lecture 11: Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Lecture 12: Loss of proteostasis and compromised autophagy
- Lecture 13: Stem cell exhaustion
- Lecture 14: Epigenetic alterations
- Lecture 15: Others: deregulated nutrient sensing and altered intercellular communication
- Lecture 16: Ageing and neurodegeneration
- Lecture 17: Age-related metabolic diseases
- Lecture 18: The ageing mouth
- Lecture 19: Exercise and healthy ageing
- Lecture 20: Dietary restriction
- Lecture 21: Others: microbiome, small compounds
- Lecture 22: Philosophical, social, ethical, and gender influences on ageing, and ageism
- Lecture 23: Impact on human society of ageing research: healthcare system, economy, policy making etc
You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.
Examination
The exam is staged and has three stages:
1. Essay writing: Three essays of at 1000 words each to be selected from six questions.
2. Peer review: Each participant will review one course participant’s exam paper. The papers will be randomly assigned to the participants.
3. Revision and final submission: Each participant should revise the original exam paper in light of the peer review they have received.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.