U. A. E. University

Faculty of Science

Department of Biology

 

Course Title:

Cell Biology I

 

Course Number:

Biol 229

 

Prerequisite:             

Basic Biology (Biol 1052)

 

Credit Hours:             

2

 

Semester:                  

Spring 2003/2004

 

Instructor:

Amr Amin, Ph.D.

a.amin@uaeu.ac.ae

 

 

http://faculty.uaeu.ac.ae/~aamin/

 

 

Course Objectives

 

This course introduces the students to the cell as the basic functional unit of life. It explains the concept of compartmentalization, the functions of each organelle and links them to their structure. Starting with the Nucleus, Cytoplasm, Plasma Membrane, Cytoskeleton,

Cell Communication and ending with Cell Death.

 

Skills to be Gained

 

This course is chiefly concerned with euKaryotic cells, as opposed to bacteria, which reflects the prime importance of the insights that have come from the molecular approach. It is useful to working science student in search of a guide to help them pick their way through a vast field of knowledge.

 

Course Goals and Outcomes:

 

Goal 1: DEVELOP STUDENT’S BIOLOGICAL SKILLS.

Outcomes:

  1. Differentiate between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
  2. Discriminate between respiration and photosynthesis as tools for energy conservation.
  3. Correlate cytoskeletal structures to different cellular functions.
  4. Utilizing the internet and other computer programs to analyze scientific information.

 

Goal 2: PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH BASIC KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF CELL

BIOLOGY.

Outcomes:

  1. Recognize various structures of the cell.
  2. Compare and contrast between structures and biogenesis of different cellular organelles.
  3. Demonstrate the basic structure of cell membrane.
  4. Discuss in their own words the processing events of proteins in the ER and Golgi.
  5. Cite examples of  different forms of cellular transport.
  6. Differentiate between ion channels and other transport machineries inside the cell.
  7. Illustrate structures of various cytoskeletal elements.
  8. Explain principles of cell signaling and cell death.

 

Goal 3: PREPARE STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OR ADVANCED STUDIES WHERE

CELL BIOLOGY KNOWLEDGE WILL BE APPLIED.

Ouctcomes:

  1. Engage in collaborative work.
  2. Utilize knowledge of cell cycle to interpret the bases of different human diseases.

 

Goal 4: ENGAGE STUDENTS IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE

OF RESEARCH IN BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL FIELDS.

Outcomes:

  1. Apply cell biology techniques to investigate different biological problems.
  2. Construct scientific reports.
  3. Criticize published scientific research.

 

Teaching Activities and Techniques

 

This course covers more detailed discussion of the experimental evidence that supports the concepts discussed. However, I personally agree that it is crucial to give students a sense of how advances are made. Teaching will depend on problem solving, which is the basis for a series of questions, some easy and some hard that meant to actively involve the student in the reasoning process that precedes any discovery.

 

Grading and Assessments

 

Quizzes, Class activities and Assignments

45%

Midterm Exam

20%

Final Exam

35%

 

 

Text Book

 

Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC! (1994). By Albert, Bray, Lewis, Raft, Roberts and Watson. Garland Publisher.

 

Suggested Reading

 

Essential Cell Biology: An introduction to the Molecular Biology of the Cell (1998) by Albert, Bray, Lewis, Raff, Roberts and Walter. Garland Publisher.

 

Further Reading and Useful Websites

 

Molecular Aspects of Cell Biology (1995). By Garret and Grisham. The World of the Cell (1996). By Sauders College, Becker and others. Molecular Cell Biology (1999). By Cummings, B.; Darnell, J.; Lodish, H. and Baltimore, D.

 

An electronic companion to Molecular Cell Biology

http://www.cogitomedia.com/

 

 

Course Content

 

Introduction

 

 

Week 1, 2      

Chapter 4

Cell organization and subcellular structure                                                   

 

Handouts

Cell structure.                                                             

 

139-156

Fractionation of cells and analysis of their

molecules.                                      

 

162-176

 

 

Biogenesis of Organelles

 

 

Week 2-5

Chapter 8,12,14

 

Quiz 1                                                                  

 

The nucleus: nuclear genome, proteins,

nuclear pores, RNA and protein, localization.

 

335-356 

561-568          

The mitochondrion: mitochondrial DNA, protein localization.  

 

704-717

The chloroplast: chloroplast DNA, proteins localization.  

 

568-574

The peroxisome: protein export to peroxisome, peroxisomes and genetic diseases.                                              

 

574-577                                         

             

Energy Conservation

  

 

Week 6                

Chapter 14

 

Quiz 2                                                                  

 

Cellular respiration.                                                  

 

655-683                                        

Photosynthesis.                                                                            

 

684-696

                                                                                            

 

Plasma membrane l

 

 

 

Week 7-10

Chapter 10,12,13

 

Midterm                                                           

 

Structure of plasma membrane          

 

478-505 

Synthesis inside ER.                                                                            

 

 

Post‑translation inside Golgi apparatus.                  Synthesis of secretory and lysosomal proteins                                 

 

577-594

600-633

 

 

Plasma membrane II

 

 

Week 11-12

Chapters 11,13

 

Quiz 3                                                                  

 

Transport across cellular membrane 

 

Vesicular transport                                                                             

 

 

 

634-646    

Passive transport.                                                                          

Co‑transport.

 

508-512

 

Carrier proteins and active membrane transport.                         

 

512-522

Ion channels and electrical probes.                                              

 

523-534

 

 

Cytoskeleton     

 

 

Week 13

Chapters 16

Micro filaments : Actin and myosin.                                                                               

 

 

Intermediate filaments                                                               

 

788-815

Microtubules: structure, dynamics & associated proteins.         

 

 

821-837

 

 

Cell Signaling

 

 

Week 14-15

Chapters 15

 

Quiz 4                                                                  

 

 

Report Due

 

General principles of cell signaling.

 

721-734                

Signaling via G‑Protein‑linked cell surface receptors                         

 

734-738 

Signaling via Enzyme‑linked cell surface receptors.

 

759-768

 

                                                                                                                      

Cell Cycle and Cell Death

 

 

Week 16

Chapters 17

Apoptosis  

 

721-734                

Necrosis                                                                                        

 

assorted