LockHavenUniversity of Pennsylvania

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Biological Sciences

Cell and Molecular Biology

I. Introductory Information

A. Department Name:Biological Sciences

B. Department Catalog Number:BIOL330

C. Course Title:Cell and Molecular Biology

D. Semester Hours of Credit:Four (4)

E. Clock Hours Per Week:Six (6) (3 lecture 3 laboratory)

F. Overlays:None

G. Restrictions Upon Student Registration:Enrollment will be limited to those students who have completed BIOL202, or bypermission of the instructor.

II. Description of the Course

A. Catalog Description: An in-depth study of the chemicals, organelles, molecular genetics, and mechanisms of cellular function. Laboratory experiments give theoretical and hands-on experience in advanced molecular techniques, such as gel electrophoresis, DNA isolation, restriction digestion, DNA purity and quantification, bacterial transformation, Southern blotting, probe hybridization and detection, and PCR.

B. Comprehensive Description: This course will cover cellular functions of an animal cell beginning with the chemical components, molecular control of gene expression, protein trafficking, vesicle transport, membrane functions, and cell communication. Laboratory exercises give students hands-on experience in microbiological techniques associated with molecular biology, phenol-based DNA isolation, DNA quantitation, restriction digestion, ligation, transformation, and PCR. Students will keep laboratory notebooks, interpret and predict agarose gel data, and write reports in the scientific style.

The content of this course relates to standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Standards, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Standards for Secondary Education Biology.This course addresses INTASC Unit Standard One: Subject Matter and NCATE/NSTA standards: 1. Content, 2. Nature of Science, and 3. Inquiry.This course also addresses the following PDE Biology Standards at upper-course level:

I. B. Molecular and cellular biology and chemical basis of life.

I. C. Classical and molecular genetics and evolution.

I.D. Structure, function and development of organisms.

I. G. Implications of scientific and technological developments on ethical questions.

III. Exposition

A. Objectives:Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:

  1. Classify cellular chemicals and their functions.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the molecular genetics of gene expression and mutation.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of transport mechanisms and cellular communication.
  4. Apply and interpret mathematics appropriately to laboratory situations.
  5. Predict and analyze the results of a variety of molecular experiments.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind and the practice of basic molecular techniques.
  7. Demonstrate good lab techniques and apply best safe practices.
  8. Describe the contributions of major scientists in cell and molecular biology.

B. Activities and Requirements

Activities will include lectures and discussions of assigned reading material. Students are expected to attend 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. Active participation in lecture and lab discussions is expected. Lectures may be augmented by using multimedia such as Power Point, Smart Technology, Internet web sites and other interactive teaching/learning tools. In the Laboratory, students will work individually and in small groups to investigate concepts discussed in lecture.

Activities Related to Objectives in III. A.

  1. Students will be expected to recognize, memorize, and draw examples of all macromolecules, their building blocks, and synthetic and degradation reactions.
  2. Through lecture, small group discussions, and animations, students will learn the molecular genetic control of gene expression from DNA replication through protein translation, as well as eukaryotic and prokaryotic gene regulation.
  3. Through lecture, small group discussions, drawing, and animations, students will learn protein and vesicle trafficking, protein modifications commonly encountered regulation membrane transport, and cellular signaling.
  4. In the laboratory, students will perform all calculations for dilutions, reagent preparations, and experimental setups. Extensive repetition of all calculations through in-lab and take-home problems will be given.
  5. In the laboratory, students will conduct all the experiments necessary to clone a gene. Students will keep written records throughout the experiment, interpret all results, predict the results of some experiments, and prepare a written report in the scientific style. Students must demonstrate proper safe laboratory technique as well as come properly prepared for laboratory.
  6. In the laboratory and lecture, students will be required to understand the theory behind all laboratory techniques, from the reasons behind the use of each chemical in procedures to the operation of all instruments.
  7. Students will be given thorough instruction in laboratory safety, such as the handling of dangerous chemicals, fire hazards, puncture hazards, splash hazards, and inhalation hazards. Safety videos may be used to supplement laboratory instructions.
  8. Students will learn the history of and the scientists responsible for modern molecular knowledge.

C. Major Units and Time Allotted

  1. Lecture Units

The following units are representative of but not limited to the information to be covered.

a)Cellular macromolecules and chemistry(8 hours)

b)DNA replication, repair, transcription, translation(15 hours)

c)Chromosome structure, gene regulation(7 hours)

d)Internal and membrane transport mechanisms(8 hours)

e)Cell signaling(7 hours)

Total Hours(45 hours)

  1. Laboratory Units

Fourteen weeks of laboratory instruction will be provided during which the following techniques and skills will be taught. Specific experiments may vary with instructor. Some laboratory experiments will be inquiry-based in presentation and many topics will span several weeks.

a)Pipetting and laboratory mathematics

b)Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, Laboratory safety

c)DNA isolation and purification

d)DNA quantification

e)Restriction digestion and ligation

f)Transformation using recombinant DNA

g)PCR copying of target DNA

h)Southern Blotting and probing

i)Hybridization theory and practice

j)Inquiry-based experiments (several weeks in duration)

D. Materials and Bibliography

  1. Suggested Textbooks:

Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., et al. (2004). Essential Cell Biology (2nd ed). New York: Garland Science.

Winfrey, M.R., Rott, M.A., & Wortman, A.T.(1997). Unraveling DNA:Molecular Biology for the Laboratory. UpperSaddleRiver: Prentice Hall.

  1. Other Materials: None
  1. Bibliographic support:

Alberts, B., Bray, D., Hopkin, K., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., et al. (2004). Essential Cell Biology (2nd ed). New York: Garland Science.

Alcamo, I.E. (2001). DNA Technology, The Awesome Skill (2nd ed). San Diego: Harcourt/Academic Press.

Craig, N.L., Cohen-Fix, O., Green, R., Greider, C.W., Storz, G., & Wolberger, C. (2010). Molecular Biology, Principles of Genome Function. Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.

Lewin, B. (2004). Genes VIII. UpperSaddleRiver: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Lodish, H., Berk, A., Matsudaira, P., Kaiser, C.A., Krieger, M., Scott, M.P., et al. (2004). Molecular Cell Biology (5th ed). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.

Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E.F., & Sambrook, J. (1982). Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. ColdSpringHarbor: ColdSpringHarbor Laboratory.

Watson, J.D., Baker, T.A., Bell, S.P., Gann, A., Levine, M., & Losick, R. (2008). Molecular Biology of the Gene (6th ed). ColdSpringHarbor: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Weaver, R.F. (2012). Molecular Biology (5th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill.

IV. Standards

Grades will be assigned in accordance with University policy and will be based on a combination of examinations, quizzes, web/writing assignment, laboratory assessments, and classroom participation.

Assessment Related to the Objectives:

  1. Student understanding of cellular chemicals and their functions will be assessed using a combination of lecture quizzes and exams.
  2. Student understanding of the molecular genetics of gene expression and mutation will be assessed using a combination of lecture quizzes and exams. In the laboratory, assessment will consist of a final exam covering all laboratory techniques and theory.
  3. Student understanding of transport mechanisms and cellular communication will be assessed using a combination of lecture quizzes and exams.
  4. Focused problem sets and a comprehensive laboratory exam will assess the students’ ability to use mathematics in all areas of the laboratory.
  5. A comprehensive laboratory exam will assess the students’ ability to interpret results and describe the theory behind each technique. Additionally, focused problem sets will assess the students’ predictive and interpretive abilities.
  6. A comprehensive laboratory exam will evaluate the students’ understanding of the reasons behind all techniques, including all temperatures, chemicals, and times for each procedure.
  7. Student understanding of laboratory safety will be assessed using work sheets for safety videos, and in the comprehensive laboratory with focused questions. Laboratory safety technique may be assessed visually using a rubric that covers such topics as safety glass usage, general preparedness, use of gloves, etc.
  8. Student understanding to the contributions by scientists to our knowledge of cell biology will be assessed using a combination of lecture quizzes and exams.

V. Rationale and Impact

A. This course is required by all Biology/Cell & Organismal Option, Biology/Chemistry, and Secondary Education Biology majors. Modern biology is largely dependent on the theory and techniques of molecular cell biology. This revision (February 2012) to the original syllabus is part of the normal updating procedures of all syllabi and to fulfill PDE and NCATE accreditation standards.

B. This class is designed for juniors who have completed Genetics. This is a required course for Biology/ Cell & Organismal Option, Biology/Chemistry, and Secondary Education Biology majors, but might also be taken by other Biology, pre-Physician Assistant, and Health Science majors.

C. No other department will be affected.

VI. Cost and Staff Analysis

A. This course will be taught by current faculty of the Department of Biological Sciencesand requires higher-than-normal funding compared to most laboratory-based science courses with multiple sections.

B. This course will be offered every fall semester.

VII. Relationship among Course, Program, and University Student Learning Outcomes:

Course Learning Outcomes (Objectives)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the following: / Program
Student Learning Outcomes / University
Student Learning Outcomes
Classify cellular chemicals and their functions / Effective working knowledge in
Molecular/Cellular Biology / Knowledge-Natural Sciences
Demonstrate an understanding of the molecular genetics of gene expression and mutation / Effective working knowledge in
Molecular/Cellular Biology / Knowledge-Natural Sciences
Demonstrate an understanding of transport mechanisms and cellular communication / Effective working knowledge in
Molecular/Cellular Biology / Knowledge-Natural Sciences
Apply and interpret mathematics appropriately to laboratory situations / Laboratory Skills/Tools/
Instruments / Critical thinking
Predict and analyze the results of a variety of molecular experiments / Analytical Reasoning/Critical Thinking / Critical thinking
Demonstrate an understanding
of the theory behind and the
practice of basic molecular
techniques / Laboratory Skills/Tools/
Instruments / Knowledge-Natural Sciences
Critical thinking
Demonstrate good lab techniques and apply best safe practices / Laboratory Skills/Tools/
Instruments / Knowledge-Natural Sciences
Critical thinking
Describe the contributions of major scientists in cell and molecular biology / Effective working knowledge in
Molecular/Cellular Biology / Knowledge-Natural Sciences

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