TÜRKÇE
ENGLISH
Information
| Unit | INSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES |
| BIOLOGY (MASTER) (WITH THESIS) | |
| Code | BY784 |
| Name | Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cellular Senescence and Aging |
| Term | 2026-2027 Academic Year |
| Term | Fall |
| Duration (T+A) | 3-0 (T-A) (17 Week) |
| ECTS | 6 ECTS |
| National Credit | 3 National Credit |
| Teaching Language | Türkçe |
| Level | Belirsiz |
| Type | Normal |
| Mode of study | Yüz Yüze Öğretim |
| Catalog Information Coordinator | Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ÖZGECAN KAYALAR |
| Course Instructor |
The current term course schedule has not been prepared yet.
|
Course Goal / Objective
The main objective of this course is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the molecular, cellular and systemic foundations of the aging process. Starting from evolutionary theories of ageing, it aims to analyse the effects of mechanisms that trigger cellular senescence, such as genomic instability, telomere attrition, and epigenetic changes, on the organism's general health and disease pathogenesis. In addition, discussing the scientific basis of current biotechnological and pharmacological approaches (senotraceuticals) to slow or reverse ageing is a main focus of the course.
Course Content
Within the scope of an introduction to the biology of aging, evolutionary theories, antagonistic pleiotropy, the disposable soma hypothesis, and the concepts of lifespan and healthspan; molecular hallmarks of aging, including genomic instability and epigenetic alterations; telomere biology within the framework of telomere shortening, telomerase activity, and the end-replication problem; the definition and history of cellular senescence, the Hayflick limit, and the distinction between acute and chronic senescence; senescence pathways involving the DNA damage response (DDR), and the p53/p21 ve p16INK4a/Rb axes; SASP components, cytokines, and microenvironmental effects; mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitophagy, and mitohormesis; nutrient-sensing pathways mediated by mTOR, AMPK, and sirtuins; loss of proteostasis via chaperones, the proteasome system, and autophagy; stem cell exhaustion and the decline in regenerative capacity; the processes of inflammaging and immunosenescence; senotherapeutics, including senolytic/senomorphic drugs and reprogramming approaches; the relationship of senescence with cancer, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative diseases; current article discussions and future perspectives.
Course Precondition
None
Resources
1. Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Ageing, Ed: Bueno, Valquiria, 1st ed. 2024, ISBN: 9783031550225, Springer, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55022-5. 2. Methods in Molecular Biology, Cell Senescence: Methods and Protocols Volume: 965, Lorenzo Galluzzi(Editor), I Vitale(Editor), O Krepp(Editor), G Kroemer(Editor), ISBN: 9781627032384, Springer, 2013. 3. Cellular Senescence and Aging vol 181 /Methods in Cell Biology, ISSN 0091-679X, Eds: Giulia Petroni, Oliver Kepp, Lorenzo Galluzzi, ISBN: 9780443188961, Elsevier Science, 2024.
Notes
Current literature on the lecture
Course Learning Outcomes
| Order | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| LO01 | By comprehending the evolutionary and molecular theories of aging, he defines the biological mechanisms that determine life expectancy. |
| LO02 | Explain the triggering factors of cellular senescence (telomere loss, DNA damage, etc.) and the basic signaling pathways involved in this process (p53, p16) at the molecular level. |
| LO03 | Analyzes the paracrine effects of the phenotype (SASP) secreted by senescence cells on the tissue microenvironment, inflammation, and neighbouring cells. |
| LO04 | Interprets how mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of proteostasis, and nutrient sensing pathways (mTOR, sirtuins) modulate the rate of aging. |
| LO05 | Evaluates the role of cellular senescence in the development of age-related diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, and neurodegeneration, and the concept of "inflammaging." |
| LO06 | It critically discusses current senolytic and senomorphic strategies and clinical studies for delaying senescence or targeting senescence cells. |
| LO07 | By reading current scientific articles in the field, they develop the ability to analyze experimental methods and findings and present them in a scientific discussion environment. |
Relation with Program Learning Outcome
| Order | Type | Program Learning Outcomes | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLO01 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Based on the undergraduate level qualifications, develops and deepens the knowledge in the same or different field at the level of expertise and analyzes and interprets them using statistical methods. | |
| PLO02 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Identifies the interdisciplinary interaction that the field is related to. | 2 |
| PLO03 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Interprets the knowledge gained in the field by integrating the information from different disciplines and creates new information. | 1 |
| PLO04 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | Carries out a study that requires expertise related to the field independently. | 2 |
| PLO05 | Beceriler - Bilişsel, Uygulamalı | Evaluates the knowledge and skills acquired at the level of expertise in the field with a critical approach and directs its learning. | 1 |
| PLO06 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Supports the current developments in the field and their studies with quantitative and qualitative data and transmits them both in the field and outside the field systematically in written, oral and visual form. | 2 |
| PLO07 | Yetkinlikler - Öğrenme Yetkinliği | It supervises the social, scientific, cultural and ethical values in the collection, interpretation, application and announcement stages of the data related to the field and teaches these values. | |
| PLO08 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | The information they absorbed in the field; use problem solving and / or practical skills in interdisciplinary studies. | 3 |
| PLO09 | Bilgi - Kuramsal, Olgusal | It contributes to the solution of social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems encountered in the field and supports the development of these values. | |
| PLO10 | Yetkinlikler - Bağımsız Çalışabilme ve Sorumluluk Alabilme Yetkinliği | Develops new ideas and methods related to the field by using high level mental processes such as creative and critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. | 2 |
Week Plan
| Week | Topic | Preparation | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Biology of Aging: Evolutionary theories (Antagonistic pleiotropy, Disposable Soma), life span and health span concepts | Reading current lecture notes and related articles and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 2 | Molecular Markers of Aging (Hallmarks of Aging): Genomic instability and epigenetic changes | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 3 | Telomere Biology: Telomere shortening, telomerase activity and End-replication problem. | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 4 | Definition and History of Cellular Senescence | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 5 | Senescence Pathways I | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 6 | Senescence Pathways II | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 7 | Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Mithohormesis | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | General review | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Ödev, Sözlü Sınav, Yazılı Sınav, Performans Değerlendirmesi |
| 9 | Nutrient Sensing Pathways: Control of mTOR, AMPK, and Sirtuins on aging | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Beyin Fırtınası, Grup Çalışması |
| 10 | Loss of Proteostasis: The role of chaperones, the proteasome system, and autophagy in aging | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Grup Çalışması, Beyin Fırtınası |
| 11 | Stem Cell Depletion and Decrease in Regenerative Capacity of Tissues | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Grup Çalışması, Beyin Fırtınası |
| 12 | Aging, Inflammation and Immune System Senescence. | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Beyin Fırtınası, Grup Çalışması |
| 13 | Senothrapeutics: Senolytic and senomorphic drugs, current clinical studies and aging reprogramming approaches | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Beyin Fırtınası, Grup Çalışması |
| 14 | Relationship between Senescence and Disease: Cancer, fibrosis and neurodegenerative diseases. | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Anlatım, Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Beyin Fırtınası, Grup Çalışması, Bireysel Çalışma |
| 15 | General Review, Current Paper Discussions and Future Perspectives. | Reading current lecture notes and related articles, and internet research | Öğretim Yöntemleri: Soru-Cevap, Tartışma, Alıştırma ve Uygulama, Beyin Fırtınası, Bireysel Çalışma |
| 16 | Term Exams | General review | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav, Ödev, Performans Değerlendirmesi |
| 17 | Term Exams | Written exam, Homework, Performance Evaluation | Ölçme Yöntemleri: Yazılı Sınav, Ödev, Performans Değerlendirmesi |
Student Workload - ECTS
| Works | Number | Time (Hour) | Workload (Hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Related Works | |||
| Class Time (Exam weeks are excluded) | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Out of Class Study (Preliminary Work, Practice) | 14 | 5 | 70 |
| Assesment Related Works | |||
| Homeworks, Projects, Others | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 30 |
| Total Workload (Hour) | 157 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 (h) | 6,28 | ||
| ECTS | 6 ECTS | ||