Christian Brothers University 
Biol 421 and 421L Cell/Molecular Biology
Departmental Syllabus

Catalog Data BIOL 421. CELL/MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 
A study of eucaryotic cell structures and functions. Special emphasis is placed on the role that biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids play in the molecular biology of metabolic regulation. The clinical and molecular nature of cancer is also discussed.  Prerequisites: BIOL 112 and CHEM 212. Recommended: BIOL 311. Offered in even numbered Spring semesters. 
One semester; three credits

BIOL 421L. CELL/MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY. 
Laboratory experiences will demonstrate the concepts covered in BIOL 421. Experiments will employ techniques such as PCR, transfection, amplification and restriction mapping of plasmid DNA, western blotting and affinity chromatography. Corequisite: BIOL 421.  Offered in even numbered Spring semesters. 
One semester; one credit 

  • Lecture: 3 credits. 
  • Lab: 1 credit. 
  • Lecture and Lab are co-requisites and must be taken concurrently. 
  • This course is a required course applicable to the biology major. 
Course Goals
Biol 421		 1. To identify the function of organelles within the eukaryotic cell.
2. To appreciate the evolutionary relationships that exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
3. To understand how the cell must integrate the function of each organelle to function as a whole.
4. To identify the major differences between normal and cancer cells and appreciate the influence that genes have on cellular transformation.
5. To understand the importance of ligand-receptor interactions in the communication of a cell with its environment.
6. To gain a greater knowledge of the roles that genes play in the structure and physiology of a cell.
Course Goals
Biol 421L		 1. To develop hands-on experience with such techniques as column chromatography, fluorescence microscopy, electrophoresis, spectrophotometric analysis and PCR.
2. To understand the importance of positive and negative controls in experimental design and implementation.
3. To appreciate that many biological studies involve ongoing experiments which cannot be "wrapped up" in a single lab period.
4. To gain greater familiarity with red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets by studying their structure and function.
5. To understand how cells such as RBCs, platelets, transformed mammalian cells, and bacterial cells can be used as tools to study cellular processes, some unrelated to the cell itself.
6. To be able to critically evaluate and interpret experimental results.
Textbook
  • The World of the Cell, 4th ed., Becker, Kleinsmith, Hardin
    		•
    Prerequisite
    Courses    		 Prerequisites: BIOL 112 and CHEM 212. Recommended: BIOL 311.   The lecture course is a corequisite for the lab.
    Professor Dr. Mary Ogilvie
    Phone: 321 - 3437
    e-mail: mogilvie@cbu.edu
    Office: S203F
    Schedule for the Lecture Course Biol 421
     Week   LECTURE TOPIC  CHAPTER
     1 "The Birth of Complex Cells" Sci. Am. Article
      "The Birth of Complex Cells" Sci. Am. Article
     
    2 Properties of Cells 4
    Membranes 7
         
    3 Membranes 7
    Membranes 7
    Subcellular Fractionation and S.E.R. 12
         
    4 RER 12
    Golgi, Exocytosis 12
    Lysosomes, Peroxisomes 12
       
    5 Receptor-mediated Endocytosis 12
    Exam I
    The Mitochondrion 14
         
    6 The Nucleus
    Student Paper #1    		 16
    The Nucleus
    Student Paper #2    		 16
    Cytoskeleton 22
         
    7 Cytoskeleton
    Student Paper #3    		 22
    Platelet Signalling and Aggregation --
    Signal Transduction 10
       
    8 Signal Transduction 10
    Exam II
    Nitric Oxide, Apoptosis 10
         
      Spring Break ----  
       
    9 The Extracellular Matrix 11
    The Extracellular Matrix 11
    The Extracellular Matrix 11
       
    10 Repeated DNA Sequences 16
    Repeated DNA Sequences  16
    Student Papers #4 and #5  
    Tennessee Academy of Science meeting  
         
    11 The Cell Cycle
    Student Paper #6    		 17
    The Cell Cycle 17
    Cellular Aspects of Cancer 17
       
    12 Cellular Transformation, Oncogenes 17
    Oncogenic Agents 17
    Exam III
         
    13 PCR, Telomeres 17
    Gene Expression 19, 20
      Gene Expression 21
         
    14 The Regulation of Gene Expression 21
    Student Papers #7 and 8
    Good Friday, No classes  
       
    15 The Regulation of Gene Expression 21
    Exam IV
    Gene Therapy --
         
    16 Gene Therapy  --
    Final Exam   
    Course Syllabus provided by Dr. Mary Ogilvie
    Schedule for the Lab Course Biol 421L
     Week  Experiments
     1 Pour Sepharose 4B Affinity Columns; Make 5x TCS
    Film
     2 Purification of Venom Lectins by Affinity Chromatography 
    Pervaporation of Lectins on Friday
     3 Protein Determination of RSL with Bradford Reagent
    Run Excel to obtain standard curve --- Homework
    Lectin Hemagglutination Assays
     4  Immunofluorescence of RBCs + Lectins
    Evaluation and summary of Immunofluorescence  Week --- Homework Evaluation and summary of hemagglut. assays ---  Homework
    Run Lectins onSDS gels (2 reduced gels and 2 NR gels) -Need double samples
    5  SDS PAGE /Western Blot with Lectins
    Molecular Wt. Determination of Lectins from last week's SDS gels
    Evaluation and summary of SDS PAGE --- Homework  
    Ouchterlony Assays with Lectins
     6 Finish Western blots
    Evaluation and summary of Western Blots --- Homework.
    Coat Adhesion Plates with Plasma
    Evaluation and summary of Ouchterlonies --- Homework.
     7 Platelet Adhesion Assays (Develop next day.) 
    Run Adhesion data on Excel (Due March 2 lab) ---Homework.
     8 Platelet Aggregation with Lectins
    Evaluation and summary of Aggregation assays --- Homework.
    DNA Forensics and Digestion of Lambda DNA (Agarose gel Electrophoresis)
       Spring Break
     9 EXAM I (Covers labs from Jan. 13 ­ March 2)
    Transformation of Bacterial Cells with pGLO
    Next day, select and amplify transformants.
    10 Review Mid-term Exams
    pGLO Purification with Qiagen Maxi Kit
    Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) on Internet
    Evaluate and summarize Transformation frequency --- Homework.
    11  Spectrophotometric Analysis of pGLO
    Evaluation and Summary of Spec. analysis --- Homework.
    Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of pGLO
    Evaluate and Summarize Agarose Gel with pGLO --- Homework
    12 Examination of Mammalian Cells Transfected with pGLO
    Buccal Cell DNA Extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction with Alu
    Purification of GFP by Column Chromatography
    13 Human Allele Database
    Agarose gel with Amplified Alu 
    Evaluate & summarize Alu gel & pGLO Transfection --- Homework.
    14 Final Exam 
    Film
    Course Syllabus provided by Dr. Mary Ogilvie
    Exams and Grades
    Lecture Course    		 Biol 421 Grade will be based on:
    4 mid-semester exams:  100 pts each
    -You will be permitted to drop the lowest grade if you miss no more than three lectures and no more than one lab.
    1 final (comprehensive):  150 Pts.
    3 Quizzes:  20 pts each
    1 journal presentation:  50 Pts. each
    Total:  560 Pts.
    Make-up Exams: Should you not be able to attend lab the day of an exam, please call me as soon as possible. 
    You will be asked to present a Drs. Note.
    Grading Scale:
    A = 90 -100; B = 80 -89; C = 70 -79; D = 60 -69;  F = Less than 60
    Paper Summary and Presentation
    Each presentation will be given by two students. Each pair of students will be given a review article on one of the topics below. You must find two more related sources. Presentations must incorporate information from all 3 articles. 
    Presentations may be no more than 20 min. Points will be subtracted if talks run over20 min. Each student should talk for approximately 10 min. Time will be given for students (and moi) to ask questions of the speakers.
    Power Point must be used to show diagrams, tables, pictures or pertinent text. Avoid using small fonts and putting too much on each slide.
    A typed outline of the talk must be given to each student in the class, on the day of the presentation. 
    I will collect your outline and the two other articles on the day of the talk.
    Exams and Grades
    Lab Course    		 Biol 421L Grade based on:
    2 exams:  100 pts. each
    12 Homework assign.:  20 pts. each
    Total:  440 pts.
    Make-up Exams: Should you not be able to attend lab the day of an exam, please call me as soon as possible. You will be asked to present a Drs. note in order to be given a make-up exam. 
    • For more information about this course, contact Dr. Mary Ogilvie, CBU Biology Dept.
    [Revised July 2000 / AER]
        |Biology Dept|   |Biology Course Syllabi|
    This page maintained by Dr. Anna E. Ross, CBU Biology Webmaster.