Home page of Dr. David S. Richard

BI:402 Endocrinology:
Course outline.

Spring1997

Studies the roles of hormones in the development of animals and plants. Includes the mechanisms of action of hormones and methodologies involved in the science of endocrinology with an emphasis on insects.

Meeting Times:

• 10:00 to 11:35,Tues/Thurs. Fisher 310
  

Instructor:

• Dr. Dave Richard, Fisher Hall 217. Telephone # 4206
  

Office Hours:

• Flexible-or by appointment
  

Required Text

• Endocrinology. Mac E. Hadley 4th edition. You will also find Molecular Biology of the Cell. Alberts et al. 3rd Edition, useful.

Topics:

• History, methodologies, hormone types, mechanisms of action, second messengers, neuropeptides, feedback systems and homeostasis.
  
• We will spend quite a long time discussing the roles of the different hormones in the development of insects; ecdysteroids, JHs, (their neurohormones PTTH and allatostatins/ tropins) . If time is available, we will spend some time talking about plant hormones and how they regulate growth and reproduction of plants.
  

Preliminary reading assignments:

• Introduction History and early methods, feedback Chapter 1
• Hormone Classes Peptide, steroid,thyroid and many more. Chapter 2
• Methodologies Surgical, in vitro, RIA, autoradiography Chapter 3
• Mechanisms of action Cell surface/DNA binding- signal transduction Chapter 4
• Pituitary gland Anatomy and hormones Chapter 5
• Hypothalamus Control of pituitary gland Chapter 6
• Pituitary gland Posterior, oxytocin and vasopressin Chapter 7
• Melanotrophs POMC Chapter 8
• Growth hormones Chapter 12
• Neurohormones Chapter 21
• Hormones and biological clocks Chapter 20
  
• More reading will be required as we go through the course.
  

Review sessions

• As needed prior to the exams
  

Assessment

• The examinations will be open book. That is, you may bring your notes, though not the text, to the exams and refer to them freely.
  
  
• Midterms
• Test #1 Feb 20 (15%)
  Test #2 April 3 (15%)
  
• Final
• TBA (15%)
  
• Cumulative take home exam
• (due at Final) (15%)
  
• Term paper
• (20%)
  
• Four take home problems
• (2 each half of the semester).
  You will have a week to work on them. (5% each) (20%)
  

Endocrinology Paper 1997. Grading outline.

• Term paper should be approximately 3000 words (double spaced, typed)
  
• This term paper is due April 10 at 4:05pm, No extensions will be given. Late papers will score 0%.

• The topic may be of your own choosing but must be closely related to the general field of endocrinology or cell signalling, and must be cleared with me beforehand. I want a brief writen outline of your proposed topic by February 27 (about 250 to 500 words, citing the topic and references collected, together with other sources to be explored). If the outline is late, 25% will be deducted from the final essay grade for each week (or fraction of a week that it is late). We will resolve any subject conflicts on March 4. You will present a talk to the class on your paper on the 15th or 17th April. Aim for about 15 minutes. It will probably be a good idea to co-ordinate your talk with closely related talks by other members of the group.
  
• The paper will be graded according to the following criteria
  
  Introduction 15 points
  Body of paper 50 points
  Conclusions 10 points
  References 10 points
  Quality marks for presentation 5 points
  Talk 10 points
  Total 100 points