BIOL 41 Cells into Organs: Assembly, Function and Disease
How do cells organize into the myriad forms of tissues and work together to perform specific physiological functions? In this course, we will use epithelial tissues as an example to explore these fundamental questions. Epithelia are among the most common types of tissue organization in animals. They line the cavities, ducts and surfaces of all the major organ systems and provide a variety of functions such as secretion, protection and sensing. During development, epithelial tissues also function in morphogenetic processes that guide the formation of body patterns. Defects in epithelial growth control and function play a major role in human diseases such as cystic fibrosis and cancer. The goal of this course is to understand the form, dynamics and function of epithelial tissues, and how dysregulation of epithelia can lead to various human diseases.
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