École polytechnique learning platform

Prerequisite: BIO101
Cell Biology (BIO201) explores the mechanisms that cells use to communicate with their
environment, produce force to move, acquire or lose identity in normal and pathological contexts,
and organise during the development of an embryo. The course focuses on human cells, and
emphasis is placed on human diseases where appropriate. The course alternates lectures,
tutorials, and practical sessions of laboratory work. The intention is to allow students to develop
their knowledge in the subject area, to acquire sound scientific reasoning, and to become familiar
with the main techniques of modern cell biology, like quantitative microscopy imaging and
computer-assisted data analysis.

 Cell Biology (BIO 201) introduces students to the mechanisms that cells use to regulate the physical properties of their dynamic architecture, to produce force and move, to compartmentalize and transport proteins, to regulate growth and death, and to communicate with their environment. The course focuses on human cells, and emphasis is placed on human diseases where appropriate. Upon course completion, students have a comprehensive understanding of the function and architecture of cells.

Because experimentation is at the heart of progress in cell biology, 50% of classes contain practical work, completed over the course of the semester. The intention is to allow students to develop their knowledge in the subject area, to acquire sound scientific reasoning, and to become familiar with the main techniques of modern cell biology, like quantitative microscopy imaging and computer-assisted data analysis.

Prerequisite: BIO201 and BIO202
The primary goal of the Biology practicals is to provide an overview of the most recent techniques
to complement the practicals of BIO201 and BIO202. During this course, students will participate
in research projects in the École Polytechnique laboratories where they will learn some of the
most advanced techniques in biology under the supervision of researchers.

The primary goal of the biology practicals is to provide an overview of the most recent techniques used by researchers in biology to complement the practicals of BIO201 and BIO202. During this course, students will rotate in several research laboratories of Ecole Polytechnique where they will learn some of the most advanced techniques in microscopy and genetic manipulations under the supervision of researchers.

Les théories de la biodiversité sont à l'interface entre l'écologie et l'évolution. Les processus qui interviennent dans la genèse et le maintien de la biodiversité sont présentés. Ces processus sont de nature génétique (sélection naturelle, mutation, dérive, systèmes de reproduction), macroévolutive (spéciation, extinction), et écologique (maintien du polymorphisme, structuration biogéographique, niche écologiques). Ces concepts sont abordés sous forme de modèles qui font intervenir la théorie des jeux, les modèles spatialement structurés, la génétique des populations et la dynamique des populations, mais aussi à l'aide d'étude de cas particuliers.
Ce cours traite aussi de l'application de ces théorie à la gestion de la biodiversité, au niveau populationnel (diminution de la variabilité génétique, réponse à la sélection et potentialités adaptatives) et des communautés écologiques (réponse de communautés à des changements climatiques ou autres, rôle d'assurance de la biodiversité).

Langue du cours : Français
Credits ECTS : 5

Ecology and Biodiversity

The theories of the biodiversity lie at the interface between ecology and evolution. The processes underlying the origin and the maintenance of
biodiversity are presented. These processes are genetic (natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, systems of reproduction), macro-evolutionary
(speciation, extinction), and ecological (maintenance of polymorphism, biogeography, ecological niches). These concepts are approached in the form
of models using game theory, spatially structured models, population genetics and population dynamics, but also with the study of particular cases.
This course also presents applications of these theories to the management of the biodiversity, at the population level (reduction in genetic variability,
response to selection and adaptive potentialities

Level : UnderGraduate
Course Language : French

La cellule est l’unité structurale et fonctionnelle de tous les organismes vivants. Le but de ce cours est de décrire l’organisation et le fonctionnement de la cellule, ainsi que la façon dont un organisme complexe se construit à partir de ces briques élémentaires. Ce cours permet la découverte de la biologie cellulaire et de la biologie du développement, disciplines centrales des sciences de la vie, à l’interface avec de nombreux autres aspects de la biologie, mais aussi avec la physique, la chimie, l’informatique et les sciences de l’ingénieur.

Les principales thématiques abordées seront :

• l’organisation interne de la cellule (membranes, compartimentation, trafic)
• l’intégration de la cellule dans son environnement
• la multiplication et la mort cellulaire
• la construction d’un organisme multicellulaire complexe (apparition de types cellulaires différents, cellules souches, mise en place d’axes de symétrie et régionalisation, morphogenèse).

BIO451 constitue une base solide et conseillée pour les autres cours de biologie d’année 2 et 3. Il est complémentaire de BIO452, et il est de ce fait recommandé d’avoir suivi BIO452.

Langue du cours : Français
Credits ECTS : 5

The cell is the basic structural, functional and biological unit of all known living organisms. This course will reveal the organization, functions and
dysfunctions of the cell. Bio451 provides a broad introduction to cell biology, a discipline central to life sciences, at the interface with many other
aspects of biology but also with physics, chemistry, computer and engineering sciences.
After a quick description of the molecular components essential to living cells and of the key steps leading to the emergence of life on earth, students
will discover the dynamic organization of the cell. How cells can assemble to form complex multicellular organisms will also be discussed. Finally,
emphasis will be placed on the regulation of cellular functions (multiplication, dead cell, cell migration) by their microenvironment. This course will end
on notions of Virology and Oncology, pathologies associated with disruption of cellular functions, and thus confront students with the crucial health
problem.

Requirements :BIO451 provides strong and recommended knowledge for other second and third year biology courses. It is complementary to BIO452, and having followed BIO452 is recommended.

Langue du cours : French
Credits ECTS : 5