52 topics with concise breakdowns: definitions, key facts, and classroom questions.
This section serves as the fundamental basis of medical biology. Here, we analyze how living systems are organized at the micro-level: from primitive non-cellular forms (viruses, bacteriophages, and HIV) to complex eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
The material covers all structural components of the cell. You will study membrane structure and types of intercellular junctions, understand the mechanisms of substance transport (from osmosis to vesicular transport), and explore bioenergetics. Dedicated topics cover the function of organelles (ER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, cytoskeleton) and the organization of the genetic apparatus—from the bacterial chromosome to the eukaryotic cell nucleus.
During seminars and colloquia, instructors most frequently ask about the mechanisms of active and passive membrane transport, pathologies of intercellular junctions, and the nuances of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Pay special attention to the cell cycle, aging, and viral reproduction—these form the foundation for future courses in histology, microbiology, and pharmacology.
What is the difference between oxidized and reduced forms of nicotinamide nucleotides?
Oxidized forms, such as NAD⁺ and NADP⁺, act as acceptors, accepting hydrogen from substrates. Reduced forms (NADH and NADPH) serve as donors, giving up hydrogen atoms in biosynthetic reactions or in mitochondria.
What is a virion?
A virion is the extracellular form of a virus. It is a fully formed, inert infectious particle (nucleoprotein complex) capable of infecting a new cell.
Can a single virion contain both DNA and RNA simultaneously?
No. A fundamental property of viruses is the presence of only one type of nucleic acid—either DNA or RNA.
What is a nucleocapsid?
This is a unified structure of the viral particle formed by a complex of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and protective protein subunits.
Is viral reproduction a sexual process?
No. Unlike higher plants and animals, viral reproduction is not sexual. Viruses reproduce through the separate synthesis of their components inside the cell and their subsequent assembly.
Are bacteriophages capable of infecting human or animal cells?
No, bacteriophages are strictly specific. They infect exclusively bacteria and pose no threat to animal, plant, or fungal cells.
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