Biology
301--Cell & Molecular Biology
Spring
2008
Dr. William Hixon
|
Lecture Schedule |
Laboratory Schedule |
Powerpoint Lectures |
The purpose of this course is to examine in depth the structure and function of cells. The scope of this examination will be from the basic building blocks of biological molecules to the production, activities, and evolution of the living structure. Along the way, we will become acquainted with some of the techniques used to reveal the structure and function of cells.
Class text: Becker,
W.M., L.J. Kleinsmith and J. Hardin. 2006. The World of the Cell, sixth
edition. The
Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc.
Office hours: my office is located in Rm
209, Lewis Hall. Feel free to stop by at
any time or call to make an appointment.
My office phone number is 333-6180; my home phone number is 355-8781
(please use it with discretion); email address is HixonWilliamG
at sau.edu. Official office hours will be announced in class and posted on my
office door.
Attendance: I do not monitor attendance in lecture, but
attendance in lab and at exams is mandatory.
I recommend that you attend lecture because some material presented in
class is not in the book and the discussion of concepts in class should aid
your comprehension of the material.
Additionally, if your final grade is borderline, your attendance and
participation in class will weigh in your favor.
Grading: Your final grade will be the result of accumulated
points.
Exams 1-5 (60 pts
each) -----> 300 pts
Lab grade -----> 160 pts
Attendance/Participation -----> 40
pts
Total ------>
500 pts
Your
lab grade will be derived as follows:
Lab Report #1A 40 pts
Lab Report #1B 60 pts
Lab Report #2 60 pts
Total 160
pts
NOTE: Lab reports turned in late will receive a 10%
reduction in score for each day past due.
Approximate
letter grade values are:
A = 450+ pts C = 335-374 pts
B+ = 425-449 pts D = 250-334 pts
B = 400-424 pts F = <250 pts
C+ = 375-399 pts
I strongly encourage each of you to obtain assistance from me at any
time during the semester that you are having difficulty with the material. Do not wait until you are way over your head
to decide to do something about it.
Students with Disabilities: : Students with disabilities who believe that they
may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of
Services for Students with Disabilities at 333-6275 as soon as possible to
better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty: All work submitted (exams and lab reports)
are required to be entirely your own unless announced otherwise. If you have any doubts as to the
appropriateness of your actions, please do not hesitate to check with me. I also recommend that you consult the college
catalog regarding the institution’s policy on academic dishonesty.
Dates Topic
1/16 Overview Ch.
1
1/18 Cell
Chemistry Ch.
2
1/21 NO CLASS
1/23 Macromolecules
1/25 Macromolecules
1/28 Cell
Structure Ch.
4
1/30 Bioenergetics Ch.
5
2/1 Bioenergetics Ch.
5
2/4 EXAM
1
2/6 Enzymes
2/8 Membranes
2/11 Membranes
2/13 Membrane
Transport Ch.
8
2/15 Glycolysis
& Fermentation Ch.
9
2/18 Aerobic
Respiration Ch.
10
2/20 Aerobic
Respiration Ch.
10
2/22 EXAM
2
2/25 Photosynthesis Ch.
11
2/27 Intracellular
Compartments
2/29 Intracellular
Compartments
3/3-3/9 SPRING
BREAK (ENJOY)
3/10 Electrical
Signals
3/12 Electrical
Signals
3/14 Chemical
Signals
3/17 Chemical
Signals
3/19 EXAM
3
3/21-3/24 NO CLASS—EASTER BREAK
3/26 Cytoskeleton Ch.
15
3/28 Cytoskeleton Ch.
15
3/31 Motility
& Contractility Ch.
16
4/2 Motility
& Contractility Ch.
16
4/4 DNA
& Chromosomes
4/7 DNA
& Chromosomes
4/9 The
Cell Cycle (pp. 554-6, 586-600)
4/11 Genetic
Engineering (pp. 633-46)
4/14 EXAM
4
4/16 Genetic
Code & Transcription Ch.
21
4/18 Genetic
Code & Transcription Ch.
21
4/21 Protein
Synthesis & Sorting
4/23 Protein
Synthesis & Sorting
4/25 Gene
Regulation Ch.
23
4/28 Gene
Regulation Ch.
23
4/30 Cancer Ch.
24
5/2 Cancer Ch.
24
FINAL EXAM: Friday, May 9th, 10:00-11:50
Laboratory
Schedule
Note: I may change some of the labs if preparation
time allows. I am considering some new
exercises. However, the experiments that
require a lab report will not change, nor will the related deadlines.
You will usually be working with a lab partner. Therefore attendance at all laboratory
sessions is mandatory unless I have excused you beforehand. Each
unexcused absence will result in the deduction of 10 pts from your
attendance/participation score. The lab
will be held in Rm 215. There is no lab manual; assignments will be
distributed during either the preceding lab session or lecture. The purpose of the laboratory is to introduce
you to techniques used in cell and molecular biology, and to give you practice
in deriving and reporting experimental results.
Please show up on time and bring a calculator to lab with you.
Date Topic
1/23 Introduction to the Lab: Basic Techniques
1/30 Experimental Design
2/6 Membrane Permeability*
(Spectrometry)
2/13 Discussion
2/20 Cell Fractionation (Centrifugation) [Lab Report #1A Due @ 1PM]
2/27 Organelles (Microscopy)
3/12 Molecular Biology Databases
3/19 Contractility (Microscopy) [Lab Report #1B Due @ 1PM]
3/26 Tubulin
Isolation (SDS-PAGE)
4/2 Restriction Mapping (DNA Agarose
Gel Electrophoresis)
4/9 Enzyme Induction* (Spectrometry)
4/16 Discussion
4/23 Salivary Antigens (Immunochemistry) [Lab Report #2 Due @ 1PM]
4/30 Summary & Evaluation
* Full Laboratory
Reports