BI 306.Cell Biology.

Course outline, Fall, 2006

Examines the molecular aspects of cell structure and function and the molecular processes that regulate cell behavior. Emphasizes experimental and problem-based approaches, and includes information on the cell biology of human disease. Prerequisite: BI:201 or instructor's permission. 3.00 SH.

Home page of Dr. David S. Richard

Goals of the course:

• To foster an understanding for and appreciation of the life processes related to the structure and functions of cells.
• This course is designed to allow you to investigate the structure and function of cells at the molecular level. Since cells are ubiquitous in life, cell biology must be of fundamental importance to biologists. You will note that there is much overlap of material between this course and some that you may already have taken, and with others that you will hopefully study in the future, such as developmental biology, endocrinology, immunology, molecular biology, physiology and so on. We will take that knowledge that you already have and build upon it to provide a basis for study of these other branches of biology. You will have realized that this course is a prerequisite for many of the other courses mentioned above.

Meeting Times:

• 9:00 to 9:50 MWF. Fisher 316. Lectures (3 credits)
• 1:00 to 4:00, Tue/Wed. Fisher Hall 243. Laboratory session (1 credit)
• Assignments for week One. Read chapters 1 and 2.

Instructor:

• Dr. David S. Richard, Fisher Hall 217.
• Telephone # 4206
• (743-0232 Home)
• Web http://www. susqu.edu/facStaff/r/richard/

Office Hours:

• By appointment

Text: Required
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th Edition. Alberts et al (2002).

• The material will be presented in PowerPoint lecture format, as well as by the use of some computer simulations, and by short, thought provoking questions based on experimental data. You may want to brush up on your abilities to read graphs and tables. We will spend quite a lot of time working on problems in groups in class, and on your own outside of class. I consider these problems to be the most important part of this course. Many students have said in their evaluations of the course in the past, that the one thing they initially liked the least was the problems, and that by the end of the course they thought these were the most useful things they did. I hope that you also find these useful.........even fun!

Assessment:

• Hour Exam 1: Wednesday September 27th (15%)
• Hour Exam 2: Friday November 3rd (20%)
• Hour Exam 3 (20%) and Final Exam (15%) Thursday December 14. 11:30am to 1:30am.

• The first examination is worth 15% of the final grade, the second is worth 20%. The third examination will comprise 20% to cover the final third of the course and will be completed during the final examination period. There will also be a take-home final examination worth 15% to cover material from the entire course. This is due on the date of the final examination.
• All examinations are open-note.
• 5% of the grade will be based upon group presentations of the Minimal Genome Project during the final week of semester.
• 5% of the grade will be based on the successful inclusion of materials from this course in your Electronic Portfolio that was begun in Genetics. Materials might include a reflection of skills and knowledge development during this course, actual problems and answers, and an overview of the minimal genome project..
• The remaining 20% will comprise four take-home problems, each worth 5%. You must work alone on these problems, and on the take home final examination. Please note that more than four problems will be graded but only the best four will count towards your final grade
• All grading mistakes on the hour examinations must be discussed before the start of the next examination after which point the scores become etched in stone.

Review sessions:

• Some time during the class period prior to each test will be used to review questions and problems as needed.

Rules and Regulations:

• Attendance at lecture is expected, and I reserve the right to utilize the attendance policy outlined in the student handbook to deal with any excessive number of unexcused absences.
• Any violations of the academic honesty code will be dealt with according to the procedures in the handbook.

Course Material

• The course will correspond loosely to sections in the text book. We will begin with a review of the structural and molecular components of eukaryotic cells followed by a review of protein structure and synthesis. The properties of membranes and their roles in intracellular transport and cell communication will be discussed. The cytoskeleton and its roles in many cellular functions will be presented before a section on cell division and cell cycle control. If there is time at the end of the semester, the structures of various tissues and a section on cellular energetics will be presented.
• There is a lot of material listed below. We may not get to all of it. The exams will be based only on the general topics covered in class. I will give out reading assignments on a regular basis. You will be responsible for reading the material in preparation for the exams. I suggest that you do not get behind in the reading as you will find it hard to catch up later!!
• Group projects. This section involves the development of an artificial life form on paper. Minimal Genome Project

Reading assignments. Presently required reading is shown in RED

• Chapter 1. Introduction to cells/Chapter 6,(p365-373)
• Chapter 2. Chemical components of cells
• Chapter 3. Protein structure and function
• Chapter 6. From DNA to Protein
• Chapter 10. Membrane structure
• Chapter 11. Membrane transport and electrical properties of membranes
• Chapter 12. Intracellular compartments and protein sorting
• Chapter 13. Intravessicular traffic
• Chapter 15. Cell Communication
• Chapter 16. Cytoskeleton
• Chapter 17. Cell cycle control and cell death.
• Chapter 18. Cell Division
• Chapter 19. Cell junctions, cell adhesion and the extracelluar matrix.