Cells: The Building Blocks of Life

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In this fascinating experience, Dr Alexander Lorenz explores the building blocks of life. In episode one, Alexander will guide you through the world of cell division, explaining how cells grow, reproduce, and maintain our bodies. Alexander will also introduce the key features of cell division, including the organisation of DNA in chromosomes, the process of semi-conservative DNA replication, the role of enzymes such as DNA helicases and polymerases, the formation of sister chromatids, and how the cohesin complex holds these structures together to ensure accurate division. In episode two, Alexander explores the cell cycle and mitosis, explaining how cells grow, replicate their DNA, and divide accurately. He covers the phases of mitosis and the key mechanisms that ensure chromosomes are properly segregated during this process. He also highlights how checkpoints and regulatory proteins, such as cyclins and CDKs, protect against errors that could lead to problems, including cancer. In episode three, Alexander introduces the process of meiosis and its role in sexual reproduction. He explains how processes like recombination and independent assortment generate genetic diversity, before highlighting the evolutionary advantages of diversity for adaptation and species survival. In the final episode, Alexander recaps the key facts of cell division, mitosis, and meiosis. He also discusses the cohesin complex before setting you an exciting activity that puts you in the shoes of a research scientist and asks you to answer a series of questions based on your findings!

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About University of Aberdeen

At Aberdeen, we’ve been going beyond expectation and tradition since 1495. Our students join a vibrant, global community making significant contributions to society – from revolutionising healthcare and transforming digital infrastructure to tackling climate change and creating a more sustainable world. Our research knows no boundaries: the first full-body MRI scanner was built here, and an Aberdeen graduate co-discovered the lifesaving medication insulin. We empower our graduates to think critically, collaborate widely, and innovate across disciplines and perspectives. Here, there are no limits to your ideas or to the difference they can make.

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Dr Alexander Lorenz

Dr Alexander Lorenz is originally from Vienna, Austria where he studied Botany and Genetics at the University of Vienna, later gaining his PhD in yeast cell biology. As an undergraduate and as a PhD student, he also spent time studying in Germany and Switzerland. After his PhD, he moved to the University of Oxford to work as a postdoctoral researcher for a few years specialising in yeast molecular genetics. He is now a research group leader and senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. His research focuses on how genetic diversity is generated and he currently teaches molecular biology, genetics, and microbiology to undergraduate and masters degree students.

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