Biology 321
Course Outline
Fall 2004


Cell Biology examines the structure and function of cells from the perspective of molecular and evolutionary biology.  The laboratory is designed to introduce all of the major techniques used by cell biologists to unravel the molecular biology of cells.
 
Text: Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K, Johnson, A, Lewis, J, Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Walter, P. R.. Essential Cell Biology, 2nd edition. New York: Garland Science, Inc. 2004.

Professor: Henrietta Croom                         
office: 126 Woods Labs

Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:30 and by appointment
                                                                                                                            
Lecture Schedule
Assignments are from the text.  The following is subject to minor revision.  Supplementary reading and problem sets will be assigned, and some sections will be announced as background reading only—not to be covered in class.
 

Date

Lecture Topic  

Assignment
Aug 27 Cells and Microscopy Chapter1 to p 27; pp 500-501
Aug 30 Amino acids, polypeptides, and their ionic properties pp55-56,68-69, 74-75, 119-121; handout
Sept 1 Protein structure pp 78-79, 58-64, 121-145
Sept 3 Enzymes pp 91-94, 100-105,145-150
Sept 6 Control and fractionation of proteins pp 150-158, 162-163
Sept 8 Cell biology techniques pp 160-161, 164-165
Sept 10 DNA and chromosomes Chapter 5
Sept 13 DNA replication and repair 195-214
Sept 15 DNA recombination and viruses 215-223
Sept 17
Hour test
  
Sept 20
Gene expression
 Chapter 7
Sept 22 RNA to protein 243-257
Sept 24 Eevolution of the genetic code and genomes 258-262, 291-303
Sept 27 Molecular phylogenetic analysis pp 304-319
Sept 29 Genetic engineering I pp 323-341
Oct 1 Genetic engineering II pp 341-360
Oct 4 Membrane structure Chapter 11
Oct 6 Membrane transport pp 388-402
Oct 8 Ion channels and membrane potential pp 403-410
Oct 11 Signaling in neurons Midterm pp 411-421
Oct 13
Hour Test
  
Oct 15 Bioenergetics overview pp 83-100
 
Fall Break
  
Oct 20 Biosynthesis; begin metabolism pp 106-114, 427-435
Oct 22 Metabolism, continued pp 436-449
Oct 25 Mitochondrial structure and function pp 453-477
Oct 27 Chloroplasts and the origins of electron transport 478-492
Oct 29 Intracellular compartments pp 497-507
Nov 1 Vesicular and BulkTransport across membranes pp 507-528
Nov 3 Complete compartments and begin signaling pp534-538
Nov 5 Signal transduction I pp 538-554
Nov 8 Signal transduction II pp 554--568
Nov 10
Hour Test
  
Nov 12 Organization of the cytoskeleton pp 573-584
Nov 15 Motor proteins and actin structure pp 585-594
Nov 17 Actin function pp 594-606
Nov 19 Cell cycle controls pp 611-628
Nov 22 Mitosis and its control pp 628-652
Nov 24 Complete cell division and genetic analysis pp 652-655,682-693
 
Thanksgiving Break
  
Nov 29 Tissues pp 697-725
Dec 1 Cancer pp726-736
Dec 3 The adaptive immune system handout
Dec 5 Cell-mediated immunity handout
Dec 9
9am Final Examination
  


 

Final Grade Computation

  

 

Points

Three Hour Tests (Lecture and Lab material)

 300

Problem sets and laboratory reports

 250

Final Exam 

 125

Total

 675
 

 

Laboratory Schedule
Sept 2 Spectrophotometry: uv and viible scanning, and colorimetric assay for protein
Sept 9 Chromatography: ion exchange, molecular sieve
Sept 16 Protein extraction and SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis
Sept 23 Enzyme function I
Sept 30 Enzyme function II
Oct 7 DNA extraction
Oct 14 Complete DNA extraction and begin PCR, clone the GFP (green flurescent protein) gene
Oct 21 Complete cloning and PCR, begin restriction digests
Oct 28 Isolation of organelles from rat liver
Nov 4 Complete restriction mapping
Nov 11 Western blotting
Nov 18 Complete Western blotting