BY 572-01, Cell Biology Course Syllabus, Fall Semester 2002
Instructor: Dr. Donald Salter, BG 201C (office) or BG 206 (laboratory) or BG 108 (mailbox); Phone No. 205-652-3416 (voice mail); email: . Office Hours: MF, 2:30 - 5:30 PM; Tu, 1:30 - 5:30; other times by appointment (contact me by phone (voice mail) or email).
Meeting Time:Lecture: 8:00 - 8:50 AM MWF, Room 109 BG. No lecture on M, September 2 (Labor Day), MWF, November 25, 27, & 29 (Thanksgiving Holidays).
Laboratory: 15:35 - 18:20 W, Room 206 BG. No lab on W, November 27 (Thanksgiving Holidays).
Course Description: "Cells and subcellular structures and such cellular processes as energy transformation, transport of materials, and growth." Course covers: Biological molecules, membranes, the interphase nucleus, information flow, organelles, cytoskeleton, cell cycle, cell, replication, and cell division.
Credit Hours:Four Semester hours.
Prerequisites andBY 112 (Botany), BY 122 (General Zoology), and CH 242 (Organic
Course Standards:Chem. II). In addition, the student must have the ability to read, perform simple math and algebra, and write effectively.
Course Objectives: 1. To become familiar with the biological molecules and structures of the cell and their functions within the cell.
2. To become proficient in using various techniques and tools to study the biological molecules and structures of cells.
Course Materials: Lecture: “The Cell: A Molecular Approach”, G.M. Cooper, 2000, ASM Press, Washington, D.C.; Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts, ISBN 0-87893-106-6.
Laboratory: Various sources - To be handed out during lectures and/or posted on course WEB site (see below).
Computer: You can access the course materials through my WEB page: You should be able access various documents such as the syllabus, lab exercises, literature readings, answer to quizzes, review sheets, interesting and appropriate Web sites, etc. through here.
Course Requirements Three lecture-lab exams 300 or 300 or 250
Evaluation, and Grading: (100 point each)
Comprehensive Final Exam 150 or 100 or 150
9 quizzes/problem sets
(@12.5 pts each) 50 or 100 or 100
Current Literature Review
2 times @ 25 pts each 50 or 50 or 50
Laboratory (lab reports)
2 times @ 25 pts each 50 or 50 or 50
Cell Research Paper, Web Site
& Oral Presentation 50 50 50
Lab Exercise Development 50 50 50
Total 700 or 700 or 700
Final grades will be determined from the percentage of the total possible points achieved on the basis of: A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%; F = 59-0%. Any student who is dissatisfied with grades or receives failing grades during this course is urged to discuss this with the instructor. Exam 1: Probably the Week of 9/23; Exam 2: Probably the Week of 10/14; Exam 3: Probably the Week of 11/11; Final exam: Definitely Friday, December 6, 8:00 - 10:00 AM, BG 109 (Sorry!); 33-50% comprehensive on lab and lecture material covered on Exams 1 and 2; 50-67% on lab and lecture material covered from Exam 2 to end).
Lecture/Lab Exams:Exams can consist of any combination of True/False, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, matching, short answers, problems, diagrams, and short essays on what was covered in lecture and lab (85-90 pts lecture, 10-15 pts lab for hour exams; 120-130 pts lecture, 20-30 pts lab for the comprehensive final exam). I usually include bonus questions (5 - 10% of exam value) for extra points. Review sheets will be given out prior to each exam. Exams will usually be given during the first part of labs.
Quizzes/Problem sets:There will be 9 quizzes/problem sets given during the Labs, each counting 12.5 points with, perhaps, a bonus point for the quizzes. One of the 9, presumably the lowest grades or missed ones, will be dropped for a total of up to 100 points. For this reason, there will be no make-up on quizzes. You will receive a “0” for any missed quizzes for any reason. It is strongly encouraged that you take all quizzes and not intentionally miss early ones in case you need to miss one later in the term. Each quiz will be about 10 minutes in length and given at the beginning of the lecture or lab. The quizzes will cover the previous 1 or 2 reading assignments AND what was covered in lecture on the previous 1 or 2 lecture days OR will cover the previous 1 or 2 lab(s) AND what will be done in the lab that day. Questions will be similar to lecture exam questions. Problem sets will be due 2-7 days after assignment by 5 PM on the indicated day. Problem sets will be worth up to 6.25 points any time after the 2-7 days until 5 PM on the last day of class. You can expect a quiz/problem set about every week or so. See below for how these 100 points will/can be used in your final point total.
Grading Option:You can deduct 1 quiz or problem set grade of the 9 total for a total of 8 quizzes/problem sets worth up to 100 points. One-half of these points (up to 50 points) will be included in your point total. The remaining one-half, up to 50 points, can be used in one of three options, Depending on the individual grades of your three lecture/lab exams or final exam:
- The remaining one-half of your quizzes/problem sets total grade, up to 50 points, is discarded. You will keep your 3 lecture/lab exam grades and final exam grade. OR
- Keep the remaining one-half of your quizzes/problem sets total grade, up to 50 points, and add it to 1/2 of your lowest hour lecture/lab exam grade (the other 1/2 is discarded). You will keep the remaining two lecture/lab exam grades and final exam grade will be counted as is. OR
3. Keep the remaining one-half of your quizzes/problem sets total grade, up to 50 points, and add it to 2/3 of your final exam grade (the other 1/3 is discarded). You will keep your 3 lecture/lab exam grades.
Make-Up Exams: NO Make-Up quizzes will be given for the quizzes. If you miss quizzes for any reason, up to two of these missed quizzes will be dropped from the 12 possible quizzes and problem sets; the rest of the missed quizzes will be awarded 0s. It is strongly encouraged that you take all quizzes and not intentionally miss an early quiz in case you need to miss one later in the term. Lecture Make-Up exams will be only given after presenting a legitimate excuse to me as discussed in “Attendance Policy”, page 53 in the 2001-2002 General Catalogue. Legitimate excuses include: Medical (requires doctor's note specifying that the severity of illness requires absence from class); death in immediate family (requires copy of obituary announcement from newspaper);official university functions as listed in the Weekly Report; or memo from an instructor for UWA business such as field trips, meetings, etc. The Dean of CNSM has final authority over excused absences. Planned doctor/dentist/etc. appointments are not approved excuses! Make these appointments for before or after the class lecture or exam. If an absent is approved, Make-Up exams (you don’t want to take my make-up exam!) must be taken within 7 days from the original exam date. Other options are possible.
Current Literature Review: Each student will prepare two literature reviews on various Biochemistry publications @ 25 points each. Each review will be due at 5 PM between exam I and II (Friday, probably October 4) and exam II and III (Friday, probably November 22). I will provide the format in the near future. For each review, I will put one copy of two - three Cell Biology publication on reserve in the library to be only used in the library or on the course web site. Pick one to do your review. Feel free to make your own copy. Each literature review will be worth only 12.5 points any time after the due date and 0 points if not turned in by 5 PM on the last day of class, December 5. Type-written reports are required (computer labs are available in Bibb Graves, Wallace, and the Sub at convenient hours including some evenings and weekends); Get computer literate now!
Laboratory:Lab Reports: For each completed lab exercises, a Lab report will be written using directions to be given to you at a later time. In real situations, your lab notebook would be a bound book in which every experiment is written up and all data, materials, methods are recorded. For this lab however, obtain a loose leaf binder and set it up according to the directions in the handout to be given out later. The sections of the lab report (see later) should be hand written, legible, according to the guidelines on the handout to be given out later. Include answers to the various questions (all answered of course!) of each lab exercise in your Result section. Lab reports for completed exercises will be turned in 2 times during the course, 25 points each: 5 PM on a Friday between Exam II and III (probably 10/25) and 10 AM on the Tuesday following the final exam (12/10). Late lab report turn-ins after the first deadline will be worth only 1/2 the points (12.5 pts) and 0 points if not turned in with the last lab report on December 10. Please be neat and organized; if I can’t read it or find it, you won’t get credit!
Absences: Student will usually work in pairs during each laboratory. Since missed lab work usually cannot be made up, if you must miss or be very late for a lab, you must obtain the details and results of the lab from your partner or see me to see if the lab can be done outside lab hours. Don’t make a habit of this option! Pick a good partner, communicate with your partner, swap phone numbers, and work out the details! One lab absence will not result in any penalty. Because the laboratory is a very important part of the entire course, in addition to loosing attendance points (see below), two or more lab absences, regardless of the reason, will cost you points. Two absences will result in a lowering of your course grade points by 5 points, three by 10 points, etc. on up (see Attendance Policy below). NOTE: (1) The laboratory may require some additional time outside the assigned time for the regular lab. (2) Lecture/lab exams will probably be given during the first 90 minutes of three of the laboratories. (3) Depending on what we will be doing in the lab, a portion of the lab time may also be used for lecturing and problem solving.
Make-up Labs: There are no make-up labs. If you miss a lab or labs, it is your responsibility to get the information from your partner or lab mates. Obviously it is very important for you to choose a good partner! However, if you see that you cannot make your laboratory section on Wednesday, there is a possibility that you can attend the earlier or later laboratory that day IF approved IN ADVANCE by the instructor. Don’t make this a habit!
Cell Reseach Paper, WebEach student will prepare a paper and construct a web page link to the
Link, & Oral Presentation courseWeb site on some aspect of Cell Biology. I will provide a list of topics and guidelines for the paper and web page link at a later time. In addition, each student will prepare a 10 minute oral presentation on their topic. Due dates will be given later.
Laboratory ExerciseEach Graduate Student will prepare a complete laboratory exercise on some
Developmentaspect of Cell Biology. I will provide guidelines for the project at a later time.
Extra Credit:Homework (Optional): Homework (up to 12 extra points added to your total points which could result in up to about 2 percentage points on your final grade): ): On single stapled pages, answer the encircled problems and questions on the handouts or posted on the CP WEB site. Homework will be collected at the beginning of the each of the three hour exams and the final exam (NO TIME EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED). You may choose to do this at any time for partial credit (only in up to 3 point increments) from one exam to the next; however in order to get up to the maximum 12 points, you must turn in your question journal at the indicated time, starting with exam 1 and continuing with exam 2, then exam 3 and the final exam. You CANNOT go back and pick up previous ones.
Absence Policy:Attendance will be taken. Please find a seat in lecture and laboratory that you will use for the whole course. See "Attendance Policy", page 53, in the 2002 - 2003 General Catalogue for details. No credit for the course will be given if the student ".. does not attend at least two-thirds of the class meetings, regardless of the reason for the absences". For this course: 38 of the 58 lecture and laboratory meetings = 2/3. First two total absences (lab and lecture) are free. In addition, my policy is to give 2 points to your total points (up to 10 points) for each day not absent under 7 total lecture and lab days and deduct 2 points from your total points (the sky is the limit!) for each absence over 7 total lecture and lab days regardless of the reasons for the absences. You keep up with your absences. Note additional penalty points for missing laboratory days.
Assessment Day: As a part of the University’s plan to assess institutional effectiveness, a day is set aside each semester (except Summer Semester) for assessment activities. Although no day classes meet on this designated day, for fall – Tuesday, October 22, 2002, students are required to participate in assessment activities when they are called upon to do so.
Disability:The University of West Alabama strives to make its programs accessible to qualified persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students who have special needs that require accommodation are responsible for notifying instructors in each course in which they are enrolled and appropriate staff members, who in turn will refer the student to the ADA Compliance Coordinator. Following verification of the student’s status, the ADA Compliance Coordinator will work with the instructor or staff member in implementing an appropriate plan for accommodation of the student’s needs. Support documentation of special needs from a physician or other qualified professional will be required if deemed necessary. For additional information, see page 13 in the 2002-2003 General Catalogue; students should also contact the Student Success Center, Foust Hall Room 7, (205) 652-3651, or the Office of Student Life, Webb Hall, Room 311, (205) 652-3581.
Content/Schedule Change:The lecture and laboratory schedules reflect expected class progress in course subject material and are considered tentative. The lecture and laboratory schedules are subject to change in content and scope at the instructor's discretion. The instructor will make corrections as needed and will announce changes in the class. In some lectures, only selected parts of chapters will be presented and discussed; page numbers will be given out in class. Parts of some chapters may be discussed in lab.
Honesty/Integrity:The UWA Academic Dishonesty policy as stated in the 2002-2003 General Catalogue, pp. 53-54, and the student handbook will be followed in this course. You may work with other students to complete laboratory exercise questions and problems, laboratory reports, literature reviews, research papers, homework, and problem sets, but you must turn in your own work in your own style of writing. Plagiarism in any of these will get all involved parties "0" for the work and a verbal tongue lashing from yours truly in addition to what is spelled out in the catalogue, pp. 53-54!
Other Policies:Audible Cell Phones, Beepers, and Alarm Clocks will be turned off during lectures and laboratories. Cell phones will not be used during the lectures or laboratories. Food, Drink and Tobacco of any kind are not permitted during lectures (note new carpet, desks and chairs!) or laboratories.
BY 472 Tentative Cell Biology Lecture Schedule
WeekDateTopicChapters
1Aug. 19Course LogisticsHandout
Cells and Cell Research1
Chemistry of Cells2
2Aug. 26Chemistry of Cells2
Fund. Molecular Biology3
3Sept. 2Fund. Molecular Biology3 No class on Sept. 2
4Sept. 9Cellular Genomes4
5Sept. 16Replication, etc of Genomic DNA5
6Sept. 23RNA Synthesis and Processing6 Exam 1 during lab
7Sept. 30Protein Synthesis7 Lit. Review 1 due on 10/4
8Oct. 7The Nucleus8
9Oct. 14ER, Golgi, Lysosomes9
Exam 2 During lab
10Oct. 21Mitochondria, Chloroplasts, Peroxisomes10
Lab Report I due on 10/25
11Oct. 28Cytoskeleton, Cell Movement11
12Nov. 4The Cell Surface12
Lit. Review 2 Due on 11/8
13Nov. 11Cell Signaling13 Exam 3 during lab
14Nov. 18The Cell Cycle14
15Nov. 25No classes or labs on Nov. 25, 27, 29
16Dec. 3Cancer15
Final exam: Friday , December 7, 8:00 - 10:00 AM. Lab Report II due at 10 AM, 12/10.
BY 572 Tentative Cell Biology Lab Schedule
WeekDateTopicExercise Nos.
1Aug. 19Safety Issues, Quantitative SkillsHandouts
2Aug. 26Spectrophotometry of small moleculesHandout
3Sept. 2Macromolecular Assays,
Standard Curves of macromoleculesHandout
No class on Sept. 2
4Sept. 9Proteins as EnzymesHandout
5Sept. 16Proteins as EnzymesHandout
6Sept. 23Microscopy, Cells, & organellesHandout
Exam 1 during lab
7Sept. 30Microscopy, Cells, & organellesHandout
Meiosis, Mitosis
Lit. Review 1 due on 10/4
8Oct. 7Plasma MembraneHandout
9Oct. 14Proteins, Polysaccharides and MembranesHandout
Exam 2 During lab
10Oct. 21Proteins, Polysaccharides and MembranesHandout
Lab Report I due on 10/25
11Oct. 28Electrophoresis of Proteins, DNA Handout
12Nov. 4Cell Division: Binary Fission, MitosisHandout
Lit. Review 2 Due on 11/8
13Nov. 11Recombinant DNAHandout
Exam 3 during Lab
14Nov. 18DNA Extraction, Recombinant DNA, PCRHandout
15Nov. 25No classes on Nov. 25, 27, 29None
16Dec. 3Finish up; Oral PresentationsStudents
Final exam: Friday, December 6, 8:00 - 10:00. Lab Report II due at 10 AM, 12/10
Strategies for Success in BY 572, Cell Biology
The course content of BY 472 may be totally new, vaguely familiar, or a more in-depth analysis of similar material from other courses and experiences. Regardless, there are several strategies that I feel you can employ to master and retain the material, relieve stress and, actually, benefit you and your educational objectives. The following DOs and DON'Ts are intended as helpful hints - clearly not all are helpful to all students.
DOs
1. DO attend ALL lectures and labs and DO be on time!
2. DO take notes on lecture and laboratory materials (these areas will be emphasized on exams and quizzes/problem sets).