FSK3530 Introduction to Biomedicine 6.0 credits

Anatomy: Main structures and features of the human body (systems, organs, tissues).
Cell biology: Structural components of the cells. Basic principles of such cellular functions as transport, cell-to-cell communication and intracellular signaling.
Physiology: Basic principles of the human body functions, covering the circulatory system, respiration, digestion, immune and endocrine system, acid-base homeostasis, water and salt balance.

The overall aim of the course is to give an introduction to biomedicine to PhD students with a background in physics or mathematics, who start to work in research areas closely related to biology, bioinformatics or medicine.
After the course the student should:

• be able to communicate with research colleagues/collaborators that have a biological background
• have a good knowledge about the structure of the human body and about its organ systems and tissues
• understand the structure of animal cells and function of the cell organelles
• recognize the major processes and structures in the basis of circulation, respiration, immune defence, regulation of acid-base and water-salt balance, hormone action
• have a good understanding of the major processes and structures involved in the transport within the animal cells and in the communication of the cells with each other and with the environment
• be able to discuss ethical problems in biomedical research

Enrolled PhD student.

No prerequisites, except high-school biology, is required.

1. Despopoulos A., Silbernagl S., Color Atlas of Physiology, Thieme.
2. Alberts B.et al., Essential Cell Biology, Garland Science.

The editions used will be announced on the course webpage at least four weeks prior to start of the course.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• INL1 - Assignment, 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Written exam, 4.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The course is examined by a written exam (TEN1; 4.0 university credits, grading P/F) and a hand-in assignment (an essay about the PhD student's research studies in relation to the course content; INL1; 2.0 university credits, grading P/F).

INL1 - hand-in assignment, 2.0 university credits, grading P/F.
TEN1 - written exam, 4.0 university credits, grading P/F.

Hjalmar Brismar

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

The course corresponds to the first part of the more extensive course SK3531, Biomedicine for Engineers.