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Cell Biology Course Descriptions

The following page lists all courses taught by the cell biology graduate program. They are in numerical order. To see where they fit into the curriculum, click the hypertext link to the curriculum web page at the end of each description. We also have the students take courses from other programs, depending on their research interests. Some of these are listed at the end of this page.

CELL 6008 Laboratory Rotation *(Replaced by BBSC 6042)

The objectives of this course are to acquaint students with the research activities of individual faculty members and to assist students in selecting their areas of specialization. Upon mutual agreement with faculty, the students will rotate through three laboratories during the term spending approximately five weeks in each laboratory. During this time the student will observe and participate in specific research projects. It is expected that the student will spend a minimum of nine hours and a maximum of twelve hours in the laboratory per week. Grading will be based on a written report describing the project worked on in each laboratory. May be repeated for credit.1-6 h credits; Required. Back to Time-Table: Year 1 courses

*Note: Cell 6008 to be used only if needed in Term I of second year.

Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor; Term offered: I, II, III; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Laboratory 3-18; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6097 Research

Work designed to introduce the student to the techniques and philosophy of scientific research and to provide guidance in the development of a research problem in the major area of concentration. A brief written synopsis describing the research must be submitted to the dean before credit can be assigned. Graded on a S/U basis.Credits variable; Required before candidacy. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisite: Consent of the Instructor; Term offered: I, II, III; Year offered: Annually; Instructor: Staff

CELL 6099 Dissertation

Formal preparation and completion of the dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree under the direction of the student's supervisory committee.9 credits; Required. Back to Time-Table: Later Years courses

Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree; Term offered: I, II, III; Year offered: Annually.Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6102 Signal Response to Injury

The purpose of the course will be to characterize stress response to acute trauma in the nervous system at the molecular level. Emphasis will be on the paradigms and molecular approaches used. The latter part, of course, will focus on a presenttion of genomics and bioinformatics with emphasis on caveats and conceptual differences from more classical approaches. Course will be taught by one instructor. There will be a take home exam given at the beginning of the course and due at the end of the course to serve as an instruction tool in itself apart from an evaluation tool. Course will be 5 weeks in length. 1 credit; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prereqquisite: None: Term offered: I; Year offered: Annually. Hours to per week: 1; Instructor

CELL 6103 Lab Orientation (Replaced by BBSC 6105 Program Orientation)

The objective of this course is to introduce all first-year students to individual faculty and their research programs. Students (as a group) will visit one or two laboratories each week for an introduction and orientation to the work being done. It is anticipated that this introduction will assist the student in selecting laboratories in which to do rotations. Grading S/U, based on attendance. 1 credit; Required. Back to Time-Table: Year 1 courses

Prerequisite: Admission to Cell Biology Program; Term offered: I; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Laboratory 1; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6105 Molecular Biology Lab

This is a three-week hands-on laboratory course and introduces the student to techniques involved in the preparation and analysis of DNA and RNA. These include: transformation of bacteria with plasmid DNA and the growth and storage of the bacterial cultures: small and large scale preparation of plasmids and their analysis by restriction endonuclease digestion followed by agarose gel electrophoesis; isolation of DNA fragments from agarose gels and labeling with radionuclides: RNA isolation, electrophoresis, and transfer to nitrocellulose membranes followed by hybridization with the radioactivety labeled DNA (Northern Blotting); and the synthesis of cDNA from RNA by reverse transcription, its subsequent amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the analysis of the product by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The student will be graded both on attention to laboratory techniques and on written records of experiments. 1 credit; Elective. Back to Time-Table - Year 2 courses

Prerequisite: None. Term offered; I; Year offered; Annually. Hours per week 20 hours per week for 3 weeks in the Laboratory; Instructor Staff.

CELL 6129 Comparative Endocrinology

A course dealing with review and discussion of the endocrine systems of lower and higher vertebrates, including mammals. Emphasis will be placed on the comparative aspects of structural and functional correlations. Material will be discussed in a conference setting. Grades will be based on oral presentations (75%) and class participation (25%); 1 credit; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisite: Any course in endocrinology and physiology; Term offered: III; Year offered; Biennially; Hours per week: Conference or Discussion, 1; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6195 Seminar

The objectives of this course are two-fold: 1) to expose students to a wide range of current research topics in cell biology; and 2) to allow students to organize and present seminars in their own fields of interest. Students are required to 1) attend seminars presented by local and invited speakers on a regular basis; and 2) prepare and present one seminar each year. Performance will be evaluated by the program faculty. Entry level students present seminars based on readings from the original research literature; advanced students present a research seminar based on the scientific literature and the results of their own experimental studies. 1 Credit; Required. Back to Time-Table: Year 1 courses

Prerequisites: Admission to program. Term offered: I, II, III; Year offered: Annually; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6210 Chronobiology

An introduction to the field of biological rhythms, with emphasis on vertebrate circadian systems. Topics covered will include properties of rhythms, such as the effects of temperature and light; neural and cellular bases of rhythmicity; and human rhythms, including implications in health (e.g., jet lag, "larks" vs "owls") and disease (e.g., chronopharmacology of steroid treatment, cancer therapy, ulcer medication). The potential role that rhythmicity might have in design of research protocols will be included. The course will include assigned readings, lectures, and discussion meetings. 2 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisites: none; Term offered: I, II, III; Year offered: by arrangement; Hours per week: Lecture 1, Conference or Discussion 1; Instructor: Rubin.

CELL 6225 Topics in Neuroanatomy.

A series of discussions of selected topics in neuroanatomy which offers both a contemporary and historical review. 2 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisite: NEUR 6603; Term offered: I, II, or III; Year offered: By arrangement; hours per week: Lecture 1, Conference or Discussion 1; instructor: Hancock and Staff.

CELL 6226 Developmental Anatomy

Conferences, lectures, assigned reading , and study of slide material from vertebrate embryos including human to familiarize the student with developmental events from conception to the establishment and final organization of organ systems as well as with developmental anomalies. 2 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisites: Cell 6503, 6701 or consent of the instructor; Term offered: II; Year offered: By arrangement; Hours per week: Conference or Discussion 1, Lecture 1; Instructor: Given.

CELL 6228 Reproductive Neuroendocrinology

This is a basic course in neuroendocrinology with a focus on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. It will cover structure-function correlations in the control of hormone release at each level of the axis, including neurotransmitter modulation and steroid feedback. Concepts will be presented by lecturers from a variety of departments to show the application of diverse, interdisciplinary approaches to this field. Thus, students will be introduced to the application of a vriety of specialized techniques including electrophysiology, radioimmunoassay, innuno-cytochemistry, in situ hybridzation, autoradiography, in vitro perifusion and image analysis.. 2 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisites: Courses in Endocrinology and Neurosciences; Term offered: II or III; Year offered: By arrangement; Hours per week: Lecture 1, Conference or Discussion 1; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6301 Advanced Microanatomy and Cell Biology

The objectives of this course are 1) to allow students to deepen their understanding of modern Cell Biology research concepts in each major organ system, and 2) to learn how to communicate these concepts with both peers and students. The course will be taught in conjunction with Cell Biology of Tissues which the students will have taken (CELL 6503). Students will be given the opportunity to teach 1-2 laboratory sessions per week and a small number of review sessions; subject material will be reviewed prior to student teaching. Reading assignments will include both textbook presentations and recent publications in the Cell Biology research literature. There will be two conferences per week, during which time students will discuss the reading material and how to present it to students. The student will be asked to prepare sample hand-outs, examination questions, lecture objectives. They will prepare slides for a lecture and their final exam will be to prepare and give a lecture to their classmates. Students will be graded on the quality of assigned exercises, their teaching performance in Cell Biology of Tissues lab, and their final exam. 3 Credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisite: CELL 6503; Term offered: I; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Conference or Discussion 3, Laboratory 2-4; Instructor: Childs and Staff.

CELL 6303 Research Techniques

The objective of this course is to acquaint students with some of the research techniques currently being used in cell biology laboratories. Lectures will provide information regarding the scientific principles underlying the techniques and their practical applications. Grades will be based on a combination of written examinations, problem-solving sessions, and laboratory exercises. The particular methods covered will vary from year to year, and the course may be repeated for credit. 3 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 1 courses

Prerequisites: None; Term offered: I. Year offered: Annually; Instructors: Staff.

CELL6304 Academic Skills

The objectives of thei course are: a1)To learn how to a prepare dissertation proposal and thereby be skilled in grant writing. a2) To learn how to prepare a seminar including familarization with slide making tools and scientific presentation style, a3) To learn analytical skills necessary for understanding and writing scientific papers. b) Teaching techniques employed will be :1)lecture, 2) classroom discussion, 3) projects, and 4) practice seminars. c) Basis for grading includes 1) class participation - 40%, 2) project - mock dissertation prosposal - 30%, and 3) practice seminar - 30%. 3 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table - Year 2 courses

Preqequisite: None, Term offered III, Year offered Annually, Hours per week: Discussion 3, Instructor Staff.

CELL 6324 Teaching in Gross Anatomy

The purpose of this course is to prepare the graduate student in depth for future teaching responsibilities in gross anatomy. The course includes detailed gross anatomical prosections and formal presentations of the dissected regions to the freshman medical class, utilizing various communications media, including color television and videotape. By necessity, the student will be thoroughly exposed to anatomical variations, anomalies, and the clinical significance of human anatomy. The student's performance will be evaluated on the basis of quality prosections and formal presentations. 3 credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: courses in years 3-4.

Prerequisite: CELL 6701; Term offered: I; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Conference or Discussion 1, Laboratory 6; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6503 Cell Biology of Tissues

This course is designed to acquaint students with the microscopic anatomy of the tissues and organs of the human body. Lectures and laboratory exercises will be used to introduce each topic and will be supplemented by reading assignments, which will include textbook presentations and current publications in the field. Topics will be discussed in a conference setting. Grades will be based on three written exams. 5 credits; Required. Back to Time-Table: Year 1 courses

Prerequisite: None; Term offered: III; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Lecture 2, Conference or Discussion 2, Laboratory 2; Instructor: Staff.

CELL 6701 Gross Anatomy

Lectures, conferences and laboratory work cover the gross anatomy of the human body. Weekly conferences focus on such topics as the history of anatomy, anatomical terminology, modern anatomical research methods, developmental anatomy, and anatomical topics in current medical and scientific literature. Laboratory studies include the complete dissection of a human cadaver (4 students/cadaver), and additional dissections of fetal specimens. Laboratory study is aided by a large number of permanent glass-mounted dissections, roentgenograms and clinical case presentations. 7 Credits; Elective. Back to Time-Table: Year 2 courses

Prerequisites: None; Term offered: I; Year offered: Annually; Hours per week: Lecture 4-5, Conference 1, Laboratory 6; Instructor: Staff.

Successful completion of a minimum of 2 electives totally 6 hours is one of the requirements for admission to candidacy. For lists of other electives, please see the the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Catalogue

and Internet guidelines.

Last updated: 09/14/02