BSC 300: Cell Biology

Policies and Requirements

Spring 2006

T-Th 12:30-1:45 PM
127 Biology Building

Instructor

Harriett E. Smith-Somerville
Office and Lab: 416-417 Biology Building
Lab: 416 Biology Building
Telephone: 348-1830
e-mail: hsmithso@ua.edu

Office Hours: Officially Tuesday 10:30 AM-11:30 or by appointment. Feel free to drop by, and if I am not extremely busy, I will be glad to talk.

Prerequisites: Two semesters of General Biology (BSC 114 and 116, or equivalent) and 2 semesters of General Chemistry (CH 101 and 102 or equivalent)

Course Description: The course is a survey of modern cell biology which includes the chemistry of cellular molecules, structure, functions and specializations of cells and organelles, metabolic processes, cellular responses and the techniques used to study cells and cellular phenomena.  Emphasis will be placed on the concepts and mechanisms by which cells carry out their specialized functions.

Course Goals: This survey will build on your knowledge gained in the introductory biology courses to provide the foundation needed in cell biology for advanced courses at the undergraduate, graduate and professional school levels.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, you will have the information necessary to understand the concepts of cell biology including:

• Structure and macromolecules and chemical interactions
• Enzymes and chemical reactions
• Basic metabolic processes
• Energy production and consumption
• Composition and dynamics of membranes and membrane transport
• Structure, organization and function of cellular organelles and the cytoskeleton
• Sorting and targeting of proteins
• Cellular interactions and communication
• Cell cycle and cell division
• Major techniques and general experimental approaches used to study cell structure and function

Textbook: Cell and Molecular Biology, Concepts and Experiments 4th Edition, Gerald Karp, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2005.  This textbook is required.

WebCT: A WebCT site with course information and discussion and chat rooms has been created for the course.  You are automatically given access to the WebCT site when you register for the course.

Class Attendance: Class attendance is required. 

Class Notes: Lecture material will be posted on WebCT under Course Content 3 ways: PowerPoint slides as a Flashpaper document, the slides as a handout with 3 slides per page as a pdf file, and the notes on the slides as a pdf file.  These files will be loaded on WebCT at least 1 week before the class. 

You must have web players on your computer to view the lecture material and other links accessed from the Action Menu.  These players are free.  Windows and MacIntosh versions may be downloaded from the following web sites.

• Flashpaper, Flash animations, Shockwave animations and Authorware animations: Macromedia Flash, Shockwave Authorware players:  http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/       
• Pdf flies: Adobe Reader: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html
• Quicktime movies:  Apple Quicktime player:  http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
• Windows Media Player movies: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx  (Mac version http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html)
• MDL Chime: http://www.mdl.com/products/framework/chime/

Class Format:  The class will be organized around a game that we will develop during class.  The name of the game is Cellular Pursuit.

•  Each student is responsible for viewing the posted class material and supplementing these notes with the corresponding material in the textbook.  Be sure to read The Human Perspective and Experimental Pathways in each chapter.
• The class will be divided into groups.  Each group will have a private area under Discussion in WebCT that is accessible only to members of the group and the instructor.  The group must submit the following least 2 hours before each class:
  
  
  1. 5 questions plus an answer sheet.  These questions will be used for the basis of class discussion. The questions may be multiple choice, matching, labeling with the following provisions:

  At least one question must be designed to apply information if feasible.  The following is an example of an application question:

Researchers measured the reaction rate for a give amount of enzyme in a series of experiments where substrate concentration was sequentially increased by 10%.  Initially they observed an increase in the rate of the the appearance of products, but eventually the the increase in substrate had no affect on the rate of the reaction. What is the best explanation for this observation?
a.   The substrate irreversibly inhibits the reaction when present in large amounts.
b.   The substrate becomes a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme when present in large amounts.
c.   The substrate stimulates the reaction when present at low levels.
d.   The enzyme becomes saturate

At least one question must be a synthesis question relating information. This question is an example of a synthesis question

Which one of the following is a true statement comparing phospholipids and fats.
a.   Phospholipids occur in fused rings while fats maintain a straight-chain form.
b.   Fats are saturated and phospholipids are unsaturated.
c.   Fats are soluble in organic solvents and phospholipids are soluble in water.
d.   Phospholipids are amphiphatic and fats are hydrophobic

2. A suggestion for a short answer discussion question that they feel represents an important aspect of the of the material.  The group is not required to provide the answer to this question.  One (and only one) question from all lectures covered on exam will be selected for inclusion on that exam.  This question will be worth 10 points.

   The following question was included on Exam 1 in 2004:

   Briefly describe the interaction between a substrate or substrates and the active site of an enzyme.  How does this relate to enzyme specificity?

• NOTE: These questions may address the same material but must be different in wording from questions submitted by other groups, the analytical questions at the end of the chapter and the self test questions on the textbook website:
   http://he-cda.wiley.com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle.rdr?productCd=0471465801
  
  
• At the end of the semester, each member of the group will assign a letter grade to each of the other members based on their participation in the group activities including the formulation and selection of the questions for class.  One point will be subtracted from the participation grade of each group member for each question set not submitted or submitted later than 2 hours before class.
  

• Format of each class period
• Each class will begin with a quiz consisting of 3-5 questions presented by the instructor.  These questions will be answered using the CPS response system.  The grade on these questions will be used in one component of the final grade.  A grade of 0 will be assigned for each missed quiz.
• The instructor will introduce the material supplementing the posted material. 
• The remainder of the class will be devoted to the game using the questions prepared by the groups.  As part of the game, we will talk about the answer, why the aspect of cell biology addressed by the question is important, and related questions the class may have.  The game may take the form of 1 group asking another group questions, 1 group asking the class questions, or asking questions in the format of different games such as Jeopardy.
  
  
• Both the objective questions without the answers and discussion questions provided by the groups will be posted on WebCT. 

Exams:  Four exams (100 points each) during the semester and a comprehensive final (100 points) during the final exam period.  At least 50% of the questions will come from those questions submitted by the groups and those questions asked by the instructor at the beginning of each class period.  I reserve the right to modify the wording of the question.

Make-up Exams:  Students who present a valid excuse (doctor's excuse, proof of death in the family, participation in University team event away from campus) may take a make-up exam.  You should contact me either before the exam date or within one week after the missed exam to schedule the make-up.  Students who miss the final will receive an incomplete for the course.  Make-up exams for incompletes will be given during designated period the next semester for which the student is enrolled (summer or fall). The format for make-up exams will be essay.

Grading: The final grade will be based on the average of the grades on the 5 exams plus a 6th component.  The 6th component will be calculated as follows:

• 75% = Average on the 20 of the 26 class quizzes.  The 6 lowest grades will be dropped.
• 25% = Average of the grades assigned by members of the group.  This grade will be assigned a value equal to the midpoint for each letter grade listed below.

The following grading scale will be utilized:

Cell Phone Policy: All cell phones and similar devices must be turned off during class.  If ringing becomes disruptive, I will confiscate the offending phone(s).

Academic Misconduct: All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct.  This includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information, misrepresentations, and abetting of any of the above.  The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event that academic misconduct occurs.  Students should refer to the Student Affairs Handbook, which can be obtained in The Office of Student Life and Services in the Ferguson Center.

Disability: If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.  If you have a disability but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133B Martha Parham East to register for service