Spring semesters:
BIOL 350 GWAR - Experiments in Cell and Molecular Biology; Lecture & Lab (Undergraduate Upper-Division)
Description: Experiments introducing laboratory techniques including microscopy, cytochemistry, spectrophotometric quantitation of macromolecules, organelle isolation, animal cell culture, gene expression, protein analysis, and recombinant DNA techniques. The goal in Biology 351GW is for you to learn two fundamental skills for all scientists: 1) experimental “wet” work at the bench and 2) communicating that work through writing. You are introduced to a number of fundamental cell and molecular biology techniques, which you then attempt to use to test a hypothesis and design an experiment. Science work does not end there, so you also practice another fundamental skill: writing. We combine your experimental work with writing exercises that are meant to introduce you to scientific writing and communication. You are required to read and synthesize several primary scientific articles and also produce your own writing. We emphasize breaking scientific writing down to its most basic components so that we can remove the mystery. This course is meant for upper division CMB and Biology majors and as such you are expected to build on the knowledge you acquired from your pre-requisite courses. This course also satisfies the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
Fall semesters:
BIOL 350 - Cell Biology Lecture (Undergraduate Upper-Division)
Description: The goal in BIOL 350 Cell Biology is to introduce you to the essential biology of common processes and structures within cells. These are fundamentally important for how cells work and for our understanding of them. Throughout the course, we will learn how cells in different tissues, systems and organisms perform the critical functions that allow for those tissues, systems, and organisms to function. We will learn about how cells replicate and transmit their genetic material, how they communicate with each other, what structures they are made of, what goes wrong on the cellular level in disease and damage, and how cells develop. We will examine the cellular, molecular, physical, and biochemical reasons for why cells do what they do. We will also try to understand cells from different perspectives: as building blocks of the different systems, as components of tissues, and as units that have different acquired and engrained biochemical properties. Sometimes, we will also take a step back from the cellular perspective and look at cells within the larger context of the environment, the brain, and the body. Finally, we will try to apply theoretical knowledge about cells to get a clinical perspective on disease and behavior through various interactive activities, like clinical case studies and simulations. Topics include: protein structure and function; DNA structure, gene transcription and translation and control of gene expression; structure and function of cell membranes and cellular transport; structure and function of the cytoskeleton; cellular development and new advances in cell biology.
BIOL 640 - Cellular Neurosciences Lecture (Undergraduate Upper-Division)
Description: The goal in BIOL 640 Cellular Neurosciences is to introduce you to the nervous system and its fundamental building blocks. We learn how the nervous system works at a cellular and molecular level, what neurons do when they are at rest and what they do when they are active. We examine the cellular, molecular, physical, and biochemical reasons for why neurons do what they do. We also try to understand neurons from different perspectives: as building blocks of the nervous system, as components of circuits and tissues, as cells that have different acquired and engrained biochemical properties, and as elements that behave remarkably constantly under the physical laws governing electricity. Sometimes, we also take a step back from the cellular perspective and look at neurons within the larger context of the environment, the brain, and the body. Finally, we try to apply theoretical knowledge about neurons and the nervous system to get a clinical perspective on disease and behavior through various interactive activities, like clinical case studies and simulations. Topics include: cellular and molecular analysis of neurons; cellular, synaptic, and retinal neurophysiology; electrical and chemical mechanisms underlying intra-neuronal and inter-neuronal signaling.