BIO422 Mechanisms of Signal Transduction
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
TBA
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The main goal of this course is to provide students with basic principles of intracellular signalling networks, and train them for technical approaches in analysis of key signalling regulatory pathways, cell cycle control mechanisms and biology of cancer occurrence.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Scott, Bretscher. Ploegh and Darnell. (2008) Molecular Cell Biology, 6th Edition by W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, USA
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presentation of the Syllabus - Introduction of the Course | |
| 2 | Levels of Organization: Presentation of the Syllabus Organelles of the Eukaryotic cell | Ch.1 |
| 3 | Visualizing, Fractionating and Culturing Cells ; Light microscopy, Electron microscopy, Purification of Organelles, Isolation and culturing the cells | Ch.4 |
| 4 | Biomembrane structure: Lipid composition, structural organization, protein components | Ch.5; Ch.6 |
| 5 | Moving proteins into Membranes and Organelles , QUIZ1 | Ch.10 |
| 6 | Molecular mechanisms of vesicular trafficking and endocytosis | Ch.12 |
| 7 | Signal transduction and cellular responses: Cell surface receptors and components of intracellular signal transduction pathways | Ch.17 |
| 8 | G protein-coupled receptors, cAMP and PKA,second messangers MIDTERM EXAM | Ch.17 |
| 9 | Receptor tyrosine kinases, Ras/MAP pathway, PI3/Akt pathway | Ch.18 |
| 10 | Regulating the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle: CDKs and cell-cycle control | Ch.19 |
| 11 | Regulating the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle: Checkpoints in Cell cycle regulation | Ch.20 |
| 12 | Cell Birth, Lineage and Death: Stem cells and differentiation, QUIZ2 | Ch.22 |
| 13 | Cell Birth, Lineage and Death: Cell Death and its regulation | Ch.23 |
| 14 | Cancer: Tumor cells and Genetic basis of cancer , J.Club quiz | Ch.25 |
| 15 | COURSE Overview , Laboratory assessment |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Laboratory
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 5
Mid term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Journal Club
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Assignments
18 hours ⏳ (6 week × 3 h)
Laboratory
12 hours ⏳ (6 week × 2 h)
Home Study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Midterm Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Final Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Quizzes
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO422] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO422 | Mechanisms of Signal Transduction | 3 | 2 | 6 | TUE 13-15:00h THU 11-12:00h | |||||
| Prerequisite | BIO301 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Currently not available |
||||||||
| Assistant | Muhamed Adilovic | Assistant E-mail | madilovic@student.ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | The main goal of this course is to provide students with basic principles of intracellular signalling networks, and train them for technical approaches in analysis of key signalling regulatory pathways, cell cycle control mechanisms and biology of cancer occurrence. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Scott, Bretscher. Ploegh and Darnell. (2008) Molecular Cell Biology, 6th Edition by W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, USA | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ||||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | |||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Presentation of the Syllabus - Introduction of the Course | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Levels of Organization: Presentation of the Syllabus Organelles of the Eukaryotic cell | Ch.1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Visualizing, Fractionating and Culturing Cells ; Light microscopy, Electron microscopy, Purification of Organelles, Isolation and culturing the cells | Ch.4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Biomembrane structure: Lipid composition, structural organization, protein components | Ch.5; Ch.6 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Moving proteins into Membranes and Organelles , QUIZ1 | Ch.10 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Molecular mechanisms of vesicular trafficking and endocytosis | Ch.12 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Signal transduction and cellular responses: Cell surface receptors and components of intracellular signal transduction pathways | Ch.17 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | G protein-coupled receptors, cAMP and PKA,second messangers MIDTERM EXAM | Ch.17 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Receptor tyrosine kinases, Ras/MAP pathway, PI3/Akt pathway | Ch.18 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Regulating the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle: CDKs and cell-cycle control | Ch.19 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Regulating the Eukaryotic Cell Cycle: Checkpoints in Cell cycle regulation | Ch.20 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Cell Birth, Lineage and Death: Stem cells and differentiation, QUIZ2 | Ch.22 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Cell Birth, Lineage and Death: Cell Death and its regulation | Ch.23 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Cancer: Tumor cells and Genetic basis of cancer , J.Club quiz | Ch.25 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | COURSE Overview , Laboratory assessment | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Laboratory | 1 | 10 | 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid term exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Journal Club | 1 | 10 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Assignments | 3 | 6 | 18 | |||
| Laboratory | 2 | 6 | 12 | Home Study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Midterm Exam Study | 15 | 1 | 15 | Final Exam Study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Quizzes | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 155 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||