Morehouse College

Cell Biology Syllabus

2003-2004 ACADEMIC YEAR (FIRST SEMESTER)

 

 

COURSE NUMBER:   251

 

INSTRUCTOR:            Dr. J.K. Haynes

                                      Office: Nabrit-Mapp-McBay Hall – Room 104

                                      E-mail: jhaynes@morehouse.edu

                                      Web site address: www.edtech.morehouse.edu/biology/

 

OFFICE HOURS:        2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., MTW

 

CLASS HOURS:           9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m., MWF

 

CLASSROOM:             Lecture Room #2, Nabrit-Mapp-McBay Hall

 

TEXTBOOK:                Molecular Biology of the Cell, by B. Alberts et al, Garland Science, N.Y., 2002 (4th Edition)

 

CREDIT:                      3 hours- Laboratory (Optional), 1 hour

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

          Lectures in the course will focus on the molecular mechanisms responsible for cell function. In the main, eukaryotic cells will be discussed; however, prokaryotic cells and viruses will be discussed under several topics.  The subject matter of the course includes: Anatomy and Function of Animal and Plant Cell Organelles; Evolution of Cells; Structure and Function of Water and Macromolecules; Mechanisms of Energy Production; Mechanisms Involved in Maintenance of Cellular Homeostasis as well as Growth and Division, including Control of Gene Expression; Characteristics of Cell Junctions and the Extracellular Matrix; Mechanisms of Cell Signaling; and Methods of Cell Study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVALUATION

 

          After 10-11 lectures have been presented, a major examination will be given (in approximately 3 week intervals).  Four major examinations are scheduled on the following days: September 22, October 15, November 7, and during the final exam period (December 8-12).  Each exam is worth 100 points and will cover the information presented in the previous 10-11 lectures.  All major exams are given at 6 p.m. and do not include the lecture presented on the day of the exam. Five (5) to six (6) unannounced quizzes will be given during the semester (each 10 minutes in length).  Each quiz is worth 20 points and will test your knowledge of the material presented in the two lectures immediately preceding the quiz.  Homework assignments will be given throughout the course, each worth 3 – 5 bonus points, requiring that students describe means of testing hypotheses and/or work problems pertaining to lecture material.

 

          Your final grade will be determined by dividing the total points that you have amassed on all exams and quizzes by the point value of all of the exams and quizzes.  The decimal fraction obtained will be converted to a percentage (by multiplying times 100) and letter grades will then be assigned as described below:

 

A+     97 – 100               A       90 - 96                  A-      88 – 89

B+     85 – 87                 B       80 – 84                 B-      77 – 79

C+     75 – 76                 C       70 – 74                 C-      68 – 69

D+     65 – 67                 D       60 – 64                 D-      57 – 59

                                                                             F       56 & Below

 

 

LABORATORY

         

The laboratory component of the course is optional, but in order to satisfy the requirements for the Biology major, either the Cell Biology or Physiology Laboratory must be successfully completed.  The grade for the Cell Biology Laboratory is determined independently of the grade for the lecture component of the course.  Upon successful completion of the laboratory, the student will receive one (1) credit hour.

 

          The objectives of the laboratory are to expose students to approaches used to answer questions in science and also to familiarize them with methods used in the field of Cell Biology.  The initial laboratory sessions will show students how to use basic equipment in the laboratory, including the microscope and propipettors, and how to make solutions.  Several sessions will follow, during which students will prepare tissues for and examine them with the electron microscope.  The aim of other laboratory sessions will be to: 1) fractionate and characterize cellular organelles and cell membrane proteins; 2) prepare cells for and maintain them in culture; and 3) to use immunocytochemical procedures to identify specific cell proteins.

 

CLASS ATTENDANCE (The description below is found on p. 38 in the 2002-2003 Morehouse College catalog).

 

                Class attendance is required of all students at Morehouse College. Each student is allowed as many unexcused absences as credit hours for the course.  For example, a student is allowed three unexcused absences for a three credit hour course.  A student is expected to attend all classes and not absent himself without adequate cause.  It is the responsibility of the student to make up scheduled work missed because of officially excused class absences.  Absences from announced tests and other assignments may be made up at the discretion of the instructor.

 

          Instructors are expected to outline their attendance requirements at the beginning of the semester and to include these requirements in the course syllabus issued to students.  They are required to maintain attendance records on all students, and at the request of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, report any student who exceeds the maximum number of unexcused absences.  Students who exceed the maximum number of unexcused absences may receive a failing grade in the course.

 

RESERVED MATERIAL AND AUDIOVISUALS

 

          Reference books, audiovisuals, articles and exams from previous years are available in the Biology Department and Division of Science and Mathematics Offices.  Please see the Administrative Assistants in these offices.

 

DATES OF INTEREST

August                   27        Wednesday              Classes begin at 8:00 a.m.  Late        

                                                                                    registration fee effective.  Last day

                                                                                    to complete requirements for

                                                                                    Incomplete ("I") grades received during

                                                                                    Summer 2003.

 

                                    29        Friday                          Last day to REGISTER and last day to

                                                                                    DROP classes by 5:00pm

 

September                  1          Monday                       LABOR DAY- HOLIDAY

 

                                    2          Tuesday                       Begin withdrawal period with grade of

                                                                                    "W".

 

October                       13        Monday-                      Mid-semester exams begin.

                                    17        Friday                          Mid-semester exams end.

 

                                    21        Tuesday                       Mid-semester grades due in by 12 noon.

 

                                    27        Monday                       Advisement for Spring 2004 begins.  Course

                                                                                    booklets available on the WEB.

 

November                   3          Monday                       Registration for Spring 2004 begins.

 

                                    7          Friday                          Last day to file applications for

                                                                                    baccalaureate degree for May 2004 without

                                                                                    penalty.

 

19        Wednesday                  Last day to withdraw from a course.

 

26        Wednesday                  Thanksgiving break begins at the end of

                                                classes.

 

December                   1          Monday                       Classes resume at 8:00am.

 

                                    3          Wednesday                  Last day of classes.

 

                                    4          Thursday-                     Reading period begins.

                                    5          Friday                         Reading period ends.

 

                                      8        Monday-                      Final exams begins.

                                    12        Friday                          Final exams end.  Winter recess begins at

                                                                                    the end of scheduled exams.