Biology 301:      Cell Biology, Spring, 2013

Instructor:          Dr. Ed Devlin

Office:               Gilmer 107, 6173, edevlin@hsc.edu

Office Hours:     12:30 - 1:30 M-F, and Arranged

Course Description:

This course is designed to be an introduction to the life and activities of a eukaryotic cell. It is intended that Biology 301 will provide a useful background for a number of other upper division biology courses.   We will examine cell structure, energy flow, division, motility, membranes, and the structure and function of the cell's organelles.                      

 The laboratory is intended to support the topics covered in the lecture portion of the course. There are two basic options available for the laboratory portion of a course like cell biology. One option utilizes a series of 12 separate weekly labs that describe a given phenomena or procedure. A second option, and the one we will be using in the course is more experimental in nature. Our experimental labs will involve four major areas of investigation. The format involves learning a given technique on the first week, performing an experiment your group of students design the second week, and reporting your groups results on the third week.                                      

We will talk more fully about the specific procedures for the laboratories in class. For example, you will be required to have a complete write-up of your proposed experimental labs approved by me at least two days prior to the experimental lab. These write-ups will include the analysis and findings of the previous week’s lab on the technique to be used in the experimental labs. 

Text: Lewin, et.al. 2007. Cells, Jones and Bartlett Publishing.   This is an excellent text that represents the current thinking on how an introductory cell biology course should be structured. The authors of one of the most respected upper division molecular biology texts came out with this book specifically designed as a introductory (hard to believe when you look at all the material it covers) Cell Biology text. Note, that I am recommending the first edition of the text, which is quite inexpensive, it is not necessary to buy the second edition (2010) of the text.

Grading/Honor Code: 

There will be four lecture exams and a cumulative final exam. The exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer an essay in format. The laboratory portion of the course will be graded on the basis of your oral and written presentation of your experiments. I expect integrity as put forth in the Honor Code from all students on all their work in this course.  

Lecture Exams             56 %

Final Exam                    20 %

Laboratory                     24 %

Total                             100 %

                                                              LECTURE SCHEDULE 

TOPIC                                                                                                                           READING ASSIGNMENT 

1. Introduction to Cells                                                                                                                            1

2. Continued                                                                                                                                                      1

3. Membrane Structure                                                                                                                           2

4. Membrane Transport                                                                                                                           2

5. More Membrane Transport                                                                                                      2

6. Membrane Transport Continued                                                                                   2

7. Cystic Fibrosis                                                                                                                                   Handout

8. Membrane Targeting                                                                                                                           3

9. Membrane Targeting Continued                                                                                   3

10. Exam I                                                                                                                                                        --

11. Protein Trafficking Between Membranes                                                         4

12. Protein Trafficking Continued                                                                                     4

13. Nuclear Structure                                                                                                                             5

14. Nuclear Transport                                                                                                                             5

15. Nuclear Transport Continued                                                                                      5

16. Cloning                                                                                                                                                        Handout

17. Introduction to the Cytoskeleton                                                                                 7

18. Microtubules                                                                                                                                    7

19. Higher-Order Microtubule-Based Structures                                                    7

20. Introduction to Microfilaments                                                                                    8

21. Exam II                                                                                                                                                        --

22. Actin Monomers                                                                                                                               8

23. Actin Microfilaments                                                                                                                         8

24. Intermediate Filaments                                                                                                          9

25. Genetics Case Study                                                                                                            Handout

26. Mitosis                                                                                                                                                        10

27. Kinetochores

28. Photosynthesis Review                                                                                                         17

29. The Cell Cycle                                                                                                                                  11

30. Control of the Cell Cycle                                                                                                        11

31. Exam III                                                                                                                                                       --

32. More Cell Cycle Regulation                                                                                                   12

33. Introduction to Cancer                                                                                                           13

34. Mechanisms of Cancer                                                                                                         13

35. Cell Signaling Introduction                                                                                                     Handout

36. Cell Signaling                                                                                                                                   14

37. More Cell Signaling                                                                                                                           14

38. Cell Signaling Continued                                                                                                       14

39. The Extra Cellular Matrix                                                                                                       15

40. Cell Adhesions                                                                                                                                 15

41. Exam IV                                                                                                                                                      --

42. Review                                                                                                                                                         -- 

                                                       LABORATORY SCHEDULE 

       Lab Number         Date                                                    Topic  

1.                     Jan 17                         Experimental Technique/ Data Presentation

   2.                  Jan 24                         Electrophoresis of Proteins

   3.                  Jan 31                         Identification of Unknown Proteins    

   4.                  Feb 7                           Presentation of Data

   5.                  Feb 14                         Basic Cell Culture Techniques

   6.                  Feb 21                         In Vitro Investigations

   7.                  Feb 28                         Presentation of Data

   8.                  Mar 7                           The Hill Reaction of Photosynthesis

   9.                  Mar 21                         Factors that Affect the Hill Reaction

   10.                Mar 28                         Presentation of Data

   11.               Apr 4                           Introduction to Chlamydomonas Flagellar System

   12.                Apr 11                         Investigation of Flagellar Regeneration

   13.                Apr 18                         Presentation of Data

   14.                Apr 25                         Buffer Lab