The course gives the students an overview on cellular and molecular biology related to the function of DNA, RNA and protein, regulation of gene expression, and intracellular signaling systems involved in sport and exercise.

The students should be able to:

• Know how exercise creates extracellular signals outside cells that lead to activation of receptors/channels and subsequent intracellular signalling, gene expression and changes in protein levels within cells.
• Understand the molecular adaptation to resistance exercise.
• Understand the molecular adaptation to endurance exercise.
• Understand genetics of muscle mass, strength and endurance performance.
• Understand the epigenetics of resistance and endurance exercise.
• Understand the role of exercise in cancer at the cell/molecular level.
• Understand the cell and molecular biology of adaptation to skeletal muscle / exercise in aging.
• Understand laboratory methods for assessing epigenetic, genetic, intracellular signalling, gene expression and protein levels in skeletal muscle after exercise.

These learning outcomes are subject to minor changes, such as specific topics within cell and molecular biology of sport and exercise.

The course consists of lectures, student presentations and one laboratory course (followed by a written lab report – see below). 

4 hours individual digital home exam. Graded A-F. Recourses/materials which may be used in the exam: Dictionary

Laboratory report is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Core material:

1 BOOK:
Wackerhage H. (2014). Molecular exercise physiology: An introduction. Routledge.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA
** This book is also available online: Click here to download.
*** NB! To open electronic books off campus, you must use the following VPN connection: Click here to download.