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Molecular Biology will introduce students to the critical reading of scientific research articles. Students will gain familiarity with techniques currently used in Molecular Biology research labs. This course is designed to be a seminar where students will often lead discussions.
Molecular Biology will introduce students to the critical reading of scientific research articles. Students will gain familiarity with techniques currently used in Molecular Biology research labs. This course is designed to be a seminar where students will often lead discussions.
Molecular Biology will introduce students to the critical reading of scientific research articles. Students will gain familiarity with techniques currently used in Molecular Biology research labs. This course is designed to be a seminar where students will often lead discussions.
Office: OH 214 Email: joosmundson@vassar.edu Office Hours: M 2p-3p; T 12:30-1:30 and by appointment Telephone: x7419 Class: Room 203, M/W 9:00-10:10am Text: (recommended) Watson, J. et al. 2005. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5 th ed. Pearson, Benjamin Cummings.
This course will examine information flow within cells. The information stored in DNA sequence must be faithfully copied with each cell division and used at the correct time and place. We will examine how DNA is replicated and how gene expression is able to integrate complex signals to respond to various stimuli. While the course will provide theoretical background in nucleic acid chemistry and biochemistry, emphasis will placed be on in-depth examination of primary research in molecular biology, including both important historic studies and current papers.
Learni ng Obj ect i ves:
Molecular Biology will introduce students to the critical reading of scientific research articles. Students should gain the ability to read and analyze primary literature, with a special emphasis on independently evaluating data. Students will increase their understanding for the scientific method, how experiments are designed and carried out, and how one can design further experiments based upon current research.
Students will gain familiarity with techniques currently used in molecular biology research labs and the tools required to access the massive amount of sequence information available online. These skills will give students the ability to analyze novel research findings and to design experiments based on published work.
Students will be expected to participate in and eventually to lead classroom discussions, improving their presentations skills and ability to teach fundamental principals to their peers. Therefore, students are expected to go beyond simply understanding primary literature to being able to comfortable discussing and presenting research articles in a variety of settings.
GRADING AND EXPECTATIONS:
This course is designed to be a seminar where students will often lead discussions. Therefore, throughout the semester, student participation will be critical to the success of the course. The majority of the assignments will be presentations and student led discussions. Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned material. When assigned to present on a topic, students should gain a mastery of that topic so that they can teach their peers and respond to questions from other students and the professor.
At t endance and l at eness: Because participation in class discussion will be central to our learning process, students are expected to attend class regularly. Absences may justify grade reduction. For significant lateness, the instructor may consider the tardiness as an absence for the day.
Cel l phones/ Comput ers: Cell phones are to be turned OFF (not on silent) for the duration of the class.
Computers are not to be used in class (including for note taking) except when specifically permitted by the instructor (for in-class exercises).
Text book readi ngs: Textbook readings are designed to supplement the material in the lecture and journal articles. The textbook reading is highly recommended as our class time will largely focus on primary literature.
GRADING
10% : Weekl y part i ci pat i on The success of this class depends on active participation by all students. Students are expected to attend class regularly, and each class will end with a short response paper. Additionally, students will be expected to post a response on Moodle by MIDNIGHT the night before a class in which a research article will be presented (as indicated on the schedule).
10% : Nucl ei c Aci d St ruct ure Qui z Understanding the research that will be presented throughout the semester will require a basic knowledge of the structure and function of nucleic acids on a chemical and biochemical level. This brief quiz, based primarily on the lecture on Class 2 but also on the Cloning Module, will ensure that students have the requisite background to understand subsequent assignments.
10% : Cl oni ng Proj ect In this project, students will design a novel cloning strategy, including designing PCR primers and restriction digests to ligate a gene into a cloning vector. This project will also give students the tool necessary to navigate online sequence databases that contain huge repositories of publically produced and publically available data.
30%: Cl ass present at i ons Student participation in classroom discussions will be absolutely necessary for the functionality of the course. Students will be expected to make presentations of the assigned journal articles five times throughout the semester. Students will be expected to clearly understand the material they are presenting and be able to answer questions from their peers and instructor about the reading. Special emphasis will be given on the students understanding of the techniques and methods in question.
Students will receive a grade each week they have an in-class presentation. Grades will be given the weekend after the class to help prepare for the next weeks assignment. Grades will emphasize improvement based on previous evaluations.
20% : Fi nal Present at i on At the end of the semester, students will have the opportunity to choose and present an article. Students will work in small groups to lead the discussion of a recent journal article focused on molecular biology or using molecular techniques to answer an important biological question. Students will be responsible for teaching the techniques to their peers and facilitating discussion.
20%: Fi nal Exam Students will take a final exam focused on reading and discussing a primary research article. Information to come.
Gradi ng Scal e 100%-92% A 91.9%-90% A- 89.9%-87% B+ 86.9%-83% B 82.9%-80% B- 79.9%-77% C+ 76.9%-73% C 72.9%-70% C- 69.9%-67% D+ 66.9%-63% D 62.9%-60% D- 59.9%- F
St udent s wi t h Di sabi l i t i es: Academic accommodations are available for students with disabilities who are registered with the Office of Disability and Support Services. Please schedule an appointment with me early in the semester to discuss any accommodations for this course which have been approved by the Director of Disability and Support Services as indicated in your DSS accommodation letter.