Capstone Course Syllabus
Essences of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Course number:
BIOL496.
Credit hours: 3 hours
(3 +0).
Fall 2002/2003
Prerequisite:
completion of 90 credit hours.
Course Objectives
This course is intended to integrate the students’ knowledge and skills gained in undergraduate studies. It reinforces student’s acquired-skills through problem solving approach. All of the major topics such as genetics, cellular and molecular biology, immunology and microbiology, and biotechnology are covered both as basic and applied sciences. Furthermore, this course is intended to deliver its objectives in a realistic context away from lecture-based sessions.
Skills to be gained
Upon the completion of this course, the student will be able to
1. Understand the molecular biology pertinent to various biological sciences.
2. Integrate various areas of molecular biology including cell hierarchy, membrane dynamics, genome analysis, therapeutics and cellular signaling, advanced biotechnology and immunology, and industrial microbiology.
3. Interrelate theoretical as well as practical skills in order to make them ready to tackle the real life.
4. Appreciate the function-structure relationships of macromolecules as to construct the larger picture of life sciences.
5.
Work cooperatively and appreciate
the essence of team work. The teamwork
experience will be reinforced during the course by the student’s active
participation within and between groups.
6.
Cope with job market’s demand
Teaching
Activities
1. The course will include lectures, practical and simulation sessions, literature review, and discussion sessions, and a research project.
2. For each major topic, the instructor(s) will briefly introduce and survey the course content as well as the main objectives. The student is oriented toward critical thinking, group-work, and the selection of a topic for the project. During this period, students will conduct literature search.
3. Following the introductory and orientation lectures, the students are assigned into groups of four matched for their interest. Students will participate in discussion, critical reading of literature, data collection, and practical work. In the process, each student will read, analyze, and present a seminar for each main topic as well as participate in the major project with his/her respective group.
4. It is required from each group to write a report on the project and present it to the class at the end of the course. The work must be distributed equally among the members of the group. The student is expected to demonstrate confidence in data interpretation and analysis.
5. Several CD-ROM's, Internet web sites, boards, transparencies, videotapes, and positive slides will be used throughout the course.
6. The students’ final performance will be assessed by a panel of faculty members.
Textbook
and references
Assessment
1.
Semester activities 40%
Presentation and participation
Portfolio
2.
Midterm 20%
3.
Written report and presentation
(Final Exam) 40%
Course Schedule:
Weeks 1-4: The instructor will present
a survey of each main topic that will form the cornerstone of the students’
projects.
Weeks 5-12: The students will collect data, conduct
experiments, and give an oral presentation and critical review of
literature. All of these activities will
be achieved as a group in conjunction with faculty members. During this period, each student will also
prepare a portfolio containing all the course work.
Weeks 13-16 :
The students will prepare the data and discuss the project with other
students and faculty members in preparation for presentation in the week of
final exams.
The topics
presented to the students are:
|
Topics |
Weeks |
Instructor |
|
1.
Concepts in molecular genetics
·
From DNA to protein.
·
Genome alteration. 2.
Genome analysis
·
Genome structure.
·
Novel molecular cloning approach.
·
Molecular diagnosis of disease |
1, 5, 6, and 13 |
Dr. Khaled |
|
3.
Cell cycle and cancer
·
Cytoskeleton dynamics and cellular division.
·
Cell cycle control and apoptosis. 4.
Cellular signaling and its application in
therapy
·
Glycoproteins and glycolipids.
·
Growth factors receptors.
·
G protein receptors.
·
Signaling cascades
Cytoplasmic signal transduction
·
|
2, 7, 8,
and 14 |
Dr. Amina |
|
6. Global
understanding of immunology and microbiology
·
Hypersensitivity and autoimmune diseases
·
Immunodefincinces
·
Antigen-Antibody diagnostic techniques.
·
Molecular and microbiological diagnostic
techniques.
·
Immunity to viral and bacterial infections. 7. Industrial molecular biotechnology
· Major
products of industrial microbiology.
·
Hyper-mutation and evolutionary biotechnology |
3, 9, 10,
and 15 |
Dr. AbdulAziz |
|
Global understanding of
cell hierarchy
·
Organelles structure and Cytoskeleton.
·
Nuclear materials.
·
Cellular Bioenergetics.
·
Membrane dynamics |
4, 11,
12, and 16 |
Dr. Amr |