Biology 308
*Cell Biology*
Fall 2007
Course Syllabus: Expectations,
Readings, Assignments, Lab Syllabus
Words of Wisdom from Previous Students
Lectures 'on-line':
Sometimes a picture is truly worth 1000 words so many of the readings refer
to Cell Biology Interactive-- the CD-rom that is packaged with your text
book (If you purchased your book used make sure that you
have the CD-rom . During some classes the animations and videos on that
CD-ROM will be the major 'notes' for that day. In other lectures appropriate
text figures will be mentioned in class for later reference and Powerpoint
lectures or lecture outlines are available on-line after class. Access to
these files is restricted to Davidson College Campus to comply with copywrite
laws regarding images the slides contain.Word of 'warning': The Powerpoints
for lectures contain helpful images and the outline of the information
covered. They are questions and terms we will use to organize our discussion
--they cannot replace being in class and taking notes. Click
on the Case Study Links to access the index of these Powerpoint resources. (files
become available 7:30am on day of class)
| Case Study 1: Grave's Disease | Case
Study 2: Bipolar Disorder |
Case Study 3: Werner's Syndrome |
Apoptosis animation: from Molecular Cell Biology, Lodish et al. 4th ed.
Fall 2007 Laboratory
Communication is very important to cell viability. Cells are doomed if they
cannot react to their environment, signal to other cells or coordinate the action
of internal organelles. The Cell biology lab is designed to explore facets of
extracellular (between cells) and intracellular (within a cell) signaling using
the mating reaction of yeast as a model system. The semester is divided into
3 major units during which you will discuss how scientists determine the quality
and 'fundability' of scientific research, characterize 'normal' yeast mating,
and design a research project that will characterize novel yeast strains containing
defects in the mating reaction. The final unit is part of an ongoing project
focused on elucidating the mechanisms of cell signaling, your data will be added
to that of past groups in order to extend our current understanding of my collection
of mating mutants.
Fall 2007 Laboratory Manual
Download the lab manual sections:
| Characterizing the effect of signaling; Differential Gene Expression |
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| *INSTRUCTIONS for article * |
<<read these |
Test File:
All Reviews and the Final Exam are take-home exams. They are to be completed
without the aid of outside materials and returned by the day and time indicated
in the syllabus.
Please remember that the material and papers covered in each review will vary
between years. Old reviews should be used as general guidelines for the types
of questions that may be included.
Review #1: '98,
'99,'00,'01
'02, '03, SPR'05, Fall'05 '06
Review #2: '98,
'99,'00,'01
'02, '03
, SPR'05, Fall'05 '06
Review #3:
'98, '99 (the course no longer
has a third in-semester review)
Cumulative final exam 'pre-questions'--
Pre-questions are made available on Monday Nov 27th. A subset of
those questions will appear on the final exam. You may use any resources to prepare.
Get together in study groups. Use your text. Use your time wisely and make
sure you understand the material. For the actual final exam, you
may NOT
use any prewritten answers or outside material --only the information contained
within your head.
Final Exam -- The structure of
the final exam is intended to help you reinforce course material so that you
will remember the concepts far beyond this semester (rather than an info-purge
on Dec 17th). The exam will be provided as two separate files: a cumulative
portion containing a subset of the prequestions you were provided on Nov 30th
and a 'Fourth review' portion covering Case Study 3. Together the two parts
are as long (in time required and number of points) as one of the other midterm
reviews. Both parts of the final will be emailed to you on Dec 10th.
Both parts must be completed without the use of any prewritten or outside material.
You may complete one part, turn it in, and then study for and take the other
part. Both parts must be turned in before 11am on Monday Dec 17th.
WWWeb Links
In past years the class included an assignment in which
students found, evaluated and annotated WWWeb sites that provided background
material on topics that will be covered in class. Their top picks are the basis
for this list of reference material.
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