Program Overview

Introduction to Translational Pathology Course Syllabus

Course Overview

The Introduction to Translational Pathology course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of mouse histology and its comparison to human histology. The course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand human disease-like manifestations in mouse models.

Essential Data

• Course code: 4BI133
• Course name: Introduction to Translational Pathology
• Credits: 4.5
• Form of Education: Higher education, study regulation of 2007
• Main field of study: Biomedicine
• Level: AV - Second cycle
• Grading scale: Fail (U) or pass (G)
• Department: Department of Medicine, Huddinge
• Course syllabus valid from: Autumn semester 2025

Specific Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree worth at least 180 credits in biomedicine, biotechnology, cellular and molecular biology, medicine, or the equivalent.
• Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6/English B.

Outcomes

The aim of the course is that the student should learn mouse histology and compare it to human histology. On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Explain in theory how to dissect male and female mice and collect samples from these for biomedical research.
• Explain how to process histological samples.
• Demonstrate knowledge of mouse histology.
• Discuss spontaneous pathological alterations in different mouse strains.
• Describe the most important differences between mouse and human histology.

Content

This course covers the following topics:

1. Theory of mouse dissection.
2. Theory of histological sample preparation.
3. Mouse histology, demonstrated online, in common mouse strains.
4. Mouse versus human comparative anatomy and histology.

Teaching Methods

The course is at Master's level, where students are assumed to be familiar with the most common study methods in higher education. Structured learning activities include:

• Online videos.
• Individual web microscopy.
• Online exercises.
• An individual learning diary built by the student.
• Peer-reviewing a student friend's learning diary.

Examination

A completed learning diary and performed peer-review of a student friend's learning diary. Graded Pass or Fail.

Compulsory Participation

This is an online course. To complete the course, the student must participate in and perform all teaching and learning activities.

Limitations of the Number of Examinations or Practical Training Sessions

A student who does not pass an examination at their first attempt is entitled to participate in five additional examination sessions. If the student does not pass after four examinations, they are recommended to retake the course at the next regular course occasion and may, after that, participate in two more examination sessions. If the student has failed six examinations, no additional examination sessions are provided.

Adaption of Examination

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course, etc. Content and learning outcomes, as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge, and abilities, may not be changed, removed, or reduced.

Other Directives

• This course is run by the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland, in an online mode.
• The course language is English, and examination is performed in English.
• Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the committee for Higher Education.
• This course replaces the course Introduction to Translational Pathology, 4.5 credits (4BI113), and cannot be included in a degree together with the latter course.

Literature and Other Teaching Aids

• Online material in the learning platform at the University of Turku.
• The obligatory study book of the course is Comparative Anatomy and Histology, edited by Piper Treuting and Suzanne Dintzis.