BIOS E-16/W: Cell Biology

Harvard Extension School, Spring 2016

Instructors:
Allison Lau, Ph.D.
Email: anlau@mit.edu

Alison Taylor, Ph.D.

Email: Alison_taylor@dfci.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.

Exams
The Extension School is committed to providing an accessible academic community. The
Accessibility Office offers a variety of accommodations and services to students with
documented disabilities. Please visit www.extension.harvard.edu/resources-
policies/resources/disability-services-accessibility for more information.

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.

You are responsible for understanding Harvard Extension School policies on academic integrity
(www.extension.harvard.edu/resources-policies/student-conduct/academic-integrity) and how to
use sources responsibly. Not knowing the rules, misunderstanding the rules, running out of
time, submitting the wrong draft, or being overwhelmed with multiple demands are not
acceptable excuses. There are no excuses for failure to uphold academic integrity. To support
your learning about academic citation rules, please visit the Harvard Extension School Tips to
Avoid Plagiarism (www.extension.harvard.edu/resources-policies/resources/tips-avoid-
plagiarism), where you'll find links to the Harvard Guide to Using Sources and two free online
15-minute tutorials to test your knowledge of academic citation policy. The tutorials are
anonymous open-learning tools.

Date Lecture Topics Textbook

Jan 27 Organization of the cell and ways to Ch. 9
study it’s function
Feb 3 Structure and function of the plasma Ch. 10 p441-469, Section Meetings
membrane Ch. 11 p 473-494, Begin
502-507

Feb 10 Transport of proteins into the Ch. 13 p601-610,

nucleus and mitochondria 615-621
Feb 17 Trafficking of proteins from the ER Ch. 13 p577-601,
to the plasma membrane Ch.14
Feb 24 Actin and cell movements Ch. 17 PS1 due Feb 26 (UG)
Mar 2 Microtubules and cell division Ch. 18 p821-843,
p849-860
Mar 9 EXAM 1 (No section)
Mar 16 Spring Break
Mar 23 Cell Division Ch. 18 p849-860,
Ch. 19 p873-913
Mar 30 Cell Division Checkpoints Ch. 19 p873-913
Apr 6 Signal transduction and short-term Ch. 15
cellular responses
Apr 13 Signaling pathways that lead to Ch. 16
transcriptional changes
Apr 20 Apoptosis Ch. 21 p936-944
Apr 27 Stem Cells, Cancer, and Tissue Ch. 21 p905-921, PS2 due April 29 (UG)
Homeostasis Ch. 25 p1107-1134
May 4 Final Review
May 11 Exam 2 (not cumulative)