BIOS E-16/W: Cell Biology Harvard Extension School, Spring 2015

Instructor: Katie L. Kathrein, Ph.D. Children’s Hospital Boston Karp Family Research Building One Blackfan Circle, 07005H Boston, MA 02115 Phone: 617.919.2078 Email: kkathrein@enders.tch.harvard.edu

Class Location and Times: Lecture- Science Center, Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM Section- (Location TBD) Wednesdays, 7:40-8:40 PM Course Description Ever wonder how a wound heals? Are you curious about cancer and stem cells? This course will help you unravel some of these concepts by cultivating an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern basic cellular processes like cell movement, proliferation and signal transduction. To cultivate your familiarity of the science behind what we know, we will discuss specific experimental techniques utilized to study cell biology in several model systems including yeast, frogs, fish, mice, and mammalian cells in culture. The lectures are designed to be interactive. In addition to instructor presentations, we will often break into small groups to discuss problems and analyze data. Additionally, students will give feedback each week on the successes and failures of each lecture in order to continually improve the course. This course will work on your skills in scientific writing. We will discuss how to read and interpret primary research articles, and how to construct precise and concise scientific writing. The Harvard Extension School has specific guidelines for writing intensive courses to which we will adhere. Writing-intensive course guidelines (taken from ALB requirements) Instructors in these courses assign short writing exercises or drafts, emphasize revision, and teach the core skills of academic writing in their disciplines, including analysis, argument, and the proper use of sources. In writing-intensive courses, you complete multiple writing assignments of varying lengths, at least 2 of which must be revised; produce a minimum of 10 to 12 pages of writing-exclusive of the required revisions during the term; meet at least once with the instructor or teaching assistant (in person, by phone, or electronically) to discuss writing in progress; and receive detailed feedback on both content and expression in drafts and revisions. To support your expository writing assignments, we encourage you to review Harvard College Writing Program’s disciplinary writing guides on the Resources for Students website (http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k24101&pageid=icb.page123040). The Writing Center offers tutors that can provide additional help for your writing. See information at (http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2009-10/resources/writing.jsp).

Required Text Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology 7th edition, 2012, Hardcover or eBook (available through Bedforth, Freeman, and Worth online *Chapters 1-5 cover background material that students are expected to be familiar with before taking this course. You will not be directly tested on this material, but these chapters contain central concepts important for cell biology such as the theories on the origin of multicelluarity and the central dogma. Website All pertinent information for this course will be posted on the course website throughout the semester. Students should check the site often for updates to assignments. For example, undergraduate problem sets and graduate reading assignments will be posted here. Sections Section attendance is mandatory. Separate sections will be held for undergraduate and graduate students, but both will meet immediately following lecture each week. Teaching assistants will moderate sections, but students are expected to participate and often lead the discussions. Undergraduate sections will explore the lecture material and discuss the necessary skills for good scientific writing. Writing samples will be peer-reviewed during section meetings. Graduate sections will focus on primary literature readings, critical analysis of reported data, and generating ideas for future experiments. Graduate students will hone their skills for presenting scientific data, as each article to be discussed in section will first be presented to the section by one of its members. Writing Assignments Two writing assignments will be given through the semester. Guidance and criticism will be offered before and after grading. For undergraduates, the writing assignments are designed to enhance your comprehension of primary research articles, and teach you how to critically evaluate experimental data. For graduate students, the writing assignments are meant to sharpen your critical thinking skills, and also work on your abilities to research and synthesize ideas from multiple sources. Final Grade Components Undergraduate Graduate Exam 1 20% Exam 1 30% Exam 2 20% Exam 2 30% Papers 30% Papers 30% Problem sets 20% Section participation 10% Section participation 10% Policy on late assignments Undergraduates will have two problem sets due for credit. They are due on Fridays. Answers will be posted the following Monday morning on the course website. Late problem sets will be deducted 10% for each day late and no work will be accepted on Monday. For undergraduate and graduate writing assignments, late work will be deducted 10% for each day late, including rough drafts. After one week, the work will no longer be accepted for credit.

Date Lecture Topics Readings from

textbook

Jan 28 Organization of the cell and the ways to study its function Ch. 9

Feb 4 Structure and function of the plasma membrane

Ch. 10 p441-469, Ch. 11 p 473-494, 502-507

Section meetings

begin

Feb 11 Transport of proteins into the nucleus and mitochondria

Ch. 13 p601-610, 615-621

Feb 18 Trafficking of proteins from the ER to the plasma membrane

Ch. 13 p577-601, Ch. 14

Feb 25 Trafficking and Cytoskeleton Ch. 17 PS1 due Feb 27th

Mar 4 Actin Ch. 17

Mar 11 Exam 1

Mar 18 Spring Break

Mar 25 Microtubules Ch. 18 p821-843, p849-860

Apr 1 Microtubules and Cell Division Ch. 18 p849-860, Ch. 19 p873-913

Apr 8 Cell Division and Checkpoints Ch. 19 p873-913

Apr 15 Signal transduction and short-term cellular responses

Ch. 15

Apr 22 Signaling pathways that lead to transcriptional changes Ch. 16

Apr 29 Apoptosis Ch. 21 p1006-1015 PS2 due May 1

May 6 Cancer and Tissue Homeostasis Ch. 24

May 13 Exam 2 (not cumulative)