Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Molecule to Organism Winter 2005

Workshop Keys for Spring Quarter:
Workshop 1, April 1
Workshop 2, April 15 (problems 1-4)

Key for workshop of April 29
First Homework Assignment

Spring quarter reading and topic syllabus

Topics to know for winter biochemistry final.

Jim Neitzel
Lab I room 1022
(360)867-6463
neitzelj{use that funny at sign}evergreen.edu


Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 4th edition
David L. Nelson & Michael M. Cox
W. H. Freeman
ISBN 0-7167-4339-6

The work this quarter will return to proteins and will cover: review of protein chemistry and protein structure; experimenatl methods for examining proteins; properties and mechanisms of enzymes; and protein synthesis, localization and modification.



Fall Archive:
First 3 workshop keys now up!
Workshop 5 & 6 keys up.

Text
The basic textbook for the fall quarter is The Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition. (MBOC). Reading assignments for each week are listed below. In the winter quarter we will add a biochemistry text, and we will continue to use MBOC for molecular biology. There will be occasional additional readings from web sites and scientific papers.


Evaluation Basis:
Attendance and participation in weekly workshops.
Performance on exams and quizzes, both in class and take-home. This includes the ability to succinctly explain and to use evidence to support the correct answers and approaches.
Laboratory notebook and work.
Written assignments.

Advice on studying and using the text:

Plan on reading each text section several times. I recommend an initial reconnaissance; look at the section headings, introduction and summary, and the figures. What are the major ideas? Why are these structures and processes important to organisms? What organisms do they occur in? What size and scale are we examining?

Figures and illustrations in learning this material are important in several ways. Many models for biological processes  have branched paths with multiple connections. A figure can help show all of these connections. Figures can also simplify complex subjects. Always attend to the figures and pictures in any of our reading assignments. A very powerful study technique is to make your own figures, summary diagrams, and outlines. When I am learning a new area or experimental method, I find I often must use this method. In responses to workshop and exam questions, a well labeled figure may be the optimal solution..

Part of the learning that will help you throughout the year is paying attention to commonly used methods. When theories or important generalizations are presented, what experimental evidence is provided that supports these models or contradicts other explanations?

The vocabulary in this area is enormous. Try to identify key words by their frequency of use in text, illustrations, and lectures. You may find a biological dictionary helpful. Also, start to pay attention to common Latin and Greek roots. Knowledge of these roots will help you learn vocabulary and usually helps your spelling as well. An important reason to learn the vocabulary is to allow clear communication. As one of my now retired faculty mentors says "you want to able to talk about biology without sounding like a clod." Equally important, do not use a word in your responses or solutions that you do not understand.

Work with other students and the tutor. One of the most frequent behaviors that lead to students struggling in this class is becoming isolated from other students. You may always feel free to contact me when you have a problem. I will post specific office hours once I have a feel for the weekly schedule. However, I will always schedule meetings with students. My preferred format is for you to send me an email with a suggested meeting time, and I will usually quickly confirm this. Good times to talk to me are after class just about any day, before class or at lunch break on days I am not teaching, and many Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Particularly on days when I am teaching , I like to have my lunch hour as a quiet oasis. Emergencies only at this time!

Lab and Lab Notebook:
Always come to lab in proper, safe lab attire: closed toe shoes, long pants, hair tied back, safety glasses. Lab coats are optional but nice. Always bring your lab notebook, both on lab days and on  any other days where you may need to take data or do some thinking about your lab.
A lab notebook (separate for biology and chemistry) should have a sturdy cover and paper, and a sewn sturdy binding-no spiral or loose leaf. The typical composition books, often on sale for 50 cents or so are fine. As we will use graphs and tables, you may find the quadrille rules style helpful.

Syllabus:
Week 1: Friday October 1,  10:30-12:30 LH5 (This week only-normally in Lab I 1037/1047) & 1-3 workshop Lab I 1037/1047 Use same groups as in genetics workshop
        Lecture review of important biology MBOC pp. 1-44 (very similar to genetics review)
                     chemistry pp 47-57 (much the same as discussed in organic)
                                             Major classes of biomolecules pp. 58-70
                                              Some thermodynamics review pp. 70-90
GOOD Review and Reference Tool: Panels 2-1 to  2-7 (pp.110-123 in MBOC . Worth tabbing)
       LAB: Genetics, use of microscope, polytene chromosomes and chromosome structure (see Genetics page)
Workshop  1 Key (clarification on 4b added.)

Week 2: Monday October 4, lecture Protein chemistry and structure review MBOC pp. 129-163; 168-174; 176-180
         Friday October 8. workshop
       LAB: Introduction to microbiological techniques I
Workshop 2 Key
Week 3: Monday October 11, lecture Cell Membranes MBOC pp. 583-612
       Friday October 15, workshop
       LAB: Introduction to microbiological techniques II
Workshop 3 Key
Week 4: Monday October 18, lecture MBOC pp. 615-656 (emphasize 615-636 first) Review relationship between free energy and equilibrium constant.
       Friday October 22, workshop Takehome exam given out, due following Friday.
       Lab: Drosophila (Genetics)

Week 5: Monday October 25, lecture MBOC  Continue work on membrane transport
       Friday October 29, workshop
       LAB: Use of toxins to study phagocytosis in Tetrahymena
       Organic Chem Exam 1 Monday
Workshop 5 key
Week 6: Monday November 1 Begin coverage of cell signaling and membrane receptors. MBOC Chap. 15
       Friday November  5
       LAB: Drosophila (Genetics)
       Genetics Exam 1
Workshop 6 Key
Week 7: Monday, November 6 Cellular Signaling continued; protein kinases. MBOC Chapter 15
       Friday November 12 Workshop on cell signaling.
       LAB: Yeast genetics and cell biology

Week 8: Monday, November 15 Cell cycle control and apoptosis. MBOC Chapter 17.
       Friday November 19 Workshop on cell cycle.
       LAB: Drosophila (Genetics)

Week 9: Monday, November  22 Noted schedule this week! Lecture Monday: Cytoskeleton MBOC Chapter 16
       TUESDAY November 23 Workshop 10:30-12:00 Sem. II C1107 on cytoskeleton
      
Genetics Lab report due this week
      
Organic Chem Exam 2 Monday

Week 10: Monday, November 29: Cytoskeleton and molecular motors. MBOC
       Friday December 3: In class exam: Cumulative, but emphasizing second half of the quarter. (Cell transport-signaling to cytoskeleton.) Short answer, multiple choice, reading comprehension.
       Genetics Exam 2

Evaluation Week: December 6-10




Useful Links:

Cell image collections and animations:




Last update: September 24, 2004
by JJN