Lecture Team BCOR 103 Syllabus -- Spring 2014

BCOR 103 Syllabus -- Spring 2014
MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
11:30 – 12:45 TTh, Marsh Life Science 235 Lecture Hall
Lecture Team
John Mitchell
Doug Johnson
Greg Gilmartin
102 Marsh Life Science
656-0454
[email protected]
202 Stafford Hall
656-8203
[email protected]
308 Stafford Hall
656-8808
[email protected]
All Office Hours: By Appointment
Introduction & Significance:
Cell Biology is a multidisciplinary endeavor that draws strength from biochemistry, genetics, physics,
microbiology and other specialties. It is a science that asks questions about the most basic properties of life
using the most sophisticated technology available. At its core, Cell Biology is engaged in uncovering the
fundamental processes of life. The implications of cell biology research are far ranging, from human health
to bioremediation.
Course Goals:
Through detailed informational lectures complemented with laboratory activities that allow for hands-on
experimentation, modeling and development of theoretical approaches, and improvement of critical thinking
and communication skills, the goals of BCOR 103 are to:
 Provide students a solid, broad understanding of the basic molecular properties of cells that account
for their many similarities and at the same time, for their unique properties.
 Reflect the breath in experimental approaches that impact cell biology research on the generation of
basic and applied knowledge.
 Expose students to the dynamic and experimental nature of cell biology, and the rapid and significant
advances that are being made by cell biologists.
 At its best, infect students with the excitement of scientific discovery.
Prerequisites: BIOL 1 and 2 or BIOL/BCOR 11 and 12; CHEM 31 and 32
Recommended/Concurrent: CHEM 141, 142; BCOR 101
REQUIRED RESOURCES:
The CELL – A Molecular Approach 6th Ed.
By Geoffrey Cooper and Robert E. Hausman
Sinauer Associates, Publisher, © 2013
Available at the UVM Bookstore.
Publisher textbook companion site is also available at
http://www.sites.sinauer.com/cooper6e.
Course Materials, News & Lab Manual via UVM’s Blackboard
Login using your UVM netid & password.
To report problems or ask questions specific to the BCOR 103
Blackboard site, contact Michelle McGee, course coordinator.
LABORATORY:
All of the information you will need to participate in the BCOR 103 labs can be obtained through
Blackboard, the graduate teaching assistant(s) assigned to your lab section, and the course coordinator.
Keep in mind that the laboratory section is an instructional activity that is semi-independent from lecture.
Through the labs, general techniques and principles of cell and molecular biology are covered, but the
specific lab topics and their order do not precisely match those being discussed in the lectures. That said,
your graduate teaching assistant(s) are quite capable of helping tie the materials you learn in lecture to
the lab exercises and bridging any gaps in information you feel you have, so don’t hesitate to
contribute to lab discussions with questions related to lecture.
GRADING:
Your final grade will be determined by a combination of your performance on the lecture exams and the
laboratory section of the course.
 Lecture: 400 points; 3 in class exams of 100 points each at roughly equal intervals throughout the
semester, and another exam (100pts) during finals period.
o Each exam will be composed of a series of “objective” questions (multiple choice, fill-in,
true/false) as well as short answer/essay questions.
o The lecture exams, including the “final”, are not cumulative. Each will focus on the material
presented since the previous exam. However, since the material is interrelated you will most
likely need to recall some earlier information in order to adequately answer a given exam
question.
 Laboratory: 250 points. This is a significant proportion of your grade!
o ~ 16% from pre-lab quizzes; 44% from in-lab activities & write-ups; 40% from assignments
Important Note: A passing grade in both the lecture and laboratory components of the class are required
to obtain a passing grade for the course.
BCOR 103 -- SPRING 2014
Tentative Lecture Schedule (May be subject to change)
#
Date
Topic
Text Reading
1
2
Jan 14
Jan 16
Intro, Cell Imaging
Biochemicals, Enzymes
3
Jan 21
Membrane Structure
4
5
6
Jan 23
Jan 28
Jan 30
Membrane Transport
Energetics, Metabolism
Mitochondria
7
Feb 4
Plastids (Chloroplasts)
Ch1 pg4-16, 22-28
Ch2 pg43-57,
LN 01 Biochemicals
Ch3 pg73-80
LN 02 Proteins
LN 03 Enzymes
Ch2 pg58-64
LN 04 Membranes
Ch13 pg515-526
Ch13 pg526-543
LN 05 Transport
Ch3 pg 81-91
LN 06 Metabolism
Ch13
Ch11 pg421-3
LN 07 Mitochondrion
pg431-8
Ch11 pg438-9
LN 08 Chloroplast
pg 446-50
8
9
10
11
12
Feb 6
Feb 11
Feb 13
Feb 18
Feb 20
13
Feb 25
14
--15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Feb 27
Mar 3-7
Mar 11
Mar 13
Mar 18
Mar 20
Mar 25
Mar 27
Apr 1
Apr 3
Apr 08
Apr 10
Apr 15
Apr 17
Apr 22
Apr 24
Apr 29
May 05
Exam # 1
CSK – IFs, Microfilaments
CSK – Microtubules and Motor Proteins
Protein Synthesis, Turnover
ER – Lipid Metabolism, Targeting to
membrane path
Golgi, Vesicle traffic and
Endo/Exocytosis
Cell:Cell Contact
Spring Recess
The Extracellular Matrix
Exam #2
Cell Signaling
Cell Signaling
Cell Signaling
Cell Cycle
Cell Cycle
Cell Cycle
Exam #3
Genomics/Proteomics
Genomics/Proteomics
Nucleus Structure/Function
Cell Death and Cell Renewal
Cancer
Cancer
Exam #4 / FINAL
Ch12
Ch12
Ch8
Ch10 pg373-395
Ch10 pg 395-416
Ch13 pg544-553
Ch14
Blackboard Notes
LN 14 Cytoskeleton
LN 14
LN 12 Protein Synthesis
Protein
Synthesis
LN
13 Membrane
“Organelles”
LN 13
LN 15 ECM
Ch14
LN 15 ECM
Ch15
Ch15
Ch15
Ch16
Ch16
Ch16
Dr. Johnson’s folder
Ch5
Dr. Gilmartin’s folder
Ch5
Ch9
Ch17
Ch18
Ch18
235 Marsh Life Sci Mon 05/05/14 7:30 – 10:15
Note: This Lecture schedule functions for BCOR 103A, Biol 196 A, and MMG 196C