BIO 320 CELL BIOLOGY FALL 2017

Unique #s 48600 48615

Lecturer: Dr. Clarence Chan

(Department of Molecular Biosciences)
Office NMS 2.304
Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 1:30 (or by appointment)
Phone (emergency only) 512-471-6860
Email clarence_chan@utexas.edu
DO NOT EMAIL ME THROUGH CANVAS since my response may
not reach you

Teaching assistant: Isabel Strohkendl

Office MBB 2.212B

Office Hours by appointment
Phone (emergency only) 512-232-2006
Email istrohkendl@utexas.edu

Required Textbook:

Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th Ed., 2015

Alberts, et al.
Garland Science, New York, NY

Prerequisite:

Genetics with a grade of C- or better.

Course objectives:

This course is designed to provide a solid understanding of Cell Biology. Our main goal is not for you to
memorize the list of parts of the cell but rather to understand the molecular mechanisms that control
different aspects of the life of the cell. Because of the complexity of a cell, the topics to be covered are
very extensive, involving many proteins whose names you need to know. Hence, many past students
have considered this course to be very challenging. You should have a solid knowledge of the
chemical basis of life. You may want to review Chapters 2 & 3 from the textbook before starting the
course.

Lectures and Reading Assignments:

Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 11:00 am BUR 134

Attendance at lectures is required and recorded.

For every 4 lectures missed, the grade of a student will be reduced by one level. For example, a student
who should get an A according to exam and pop quiz (see below) scores will get an A- instead if he/she
misses 4-7 lectures, and will get a B+ if he/she misses 8-11 lectures. A student who misses a lecture
because of sickness will be excused if a doctors note is provided. A student who plans on missing a
lecture because of some special circumstances (e.g., med/grad school or job interview) should discuss this
with me before the missed lecture. Depending on the circumstances, your absence in this missed lecture
may or may not be excused.

Use of laptop computers during class should be limited to course materials. If you are caught using
your computer to perform tasks unrelated to the course during the lecture, you will be regarded as
being absent for the lecture.

The textbook chapters assigned for each lecture should be read before class. You will benefit most from
the lecturing and discussion if you are well prepared. Additional reading assignments for some lectures
may be distributed in class and through the Canvas website.

Discussion Sections: Wednesday, 9 10 am (GAR 0.132)

Wednesday, 10 11 am (GAR 2.112)
Thursday, 2 3 pm (CLA 0.120)
Thursday, 3:30 4:30 pm (GDC 2.210)

Discussion sections will start on Sept 6.

Attendance is optional but very strongly recommended. Those who attend 75% (or more) of the
weekly discussion sections will receive 2 bonus points (out of a total of 100). Please come prepared to
discuss any issues or questions raised in the preceding lectures. You may attend any of the scheduled
sections. You will be responsible for materials covered in discussion sections in your exams.

Peer-Led Undergraduate Studying (PLUS)

This course is supported by Peer-Led Undergraduate Studying. PLUS study groups provide an
opportunity to collaboratively practice skills and apply knowledge you need for success in this
course. Attending study groups regularly is a great way to ensure that you are keeping up with the
material so you dont fall behind. Feel free to attend any study group at any point in the semester; more
information on times and locations will be available through Canvas and announced in class. More on
PLUS may be found at https://www.utexas.edu/ugs/slc/support/plus.

Exams and grading:

Exams MUST be taken at the 4 scheduled times and you must get my permission before you leave the
classroom during exams. There will be NO alternate times or make-ups.

Three in-term exams and a comprehensive final exam will be given, each worth 100 points. The
final exam will last just as long as the other 3 in-term exams and will start at the starting time listed
in the Registrar Offices final exam schedule website (i.e., if the time listed is 9 am to noon, the exam
will start at 9 and will end at 10:15). A student who misses an exam will be assigned a grade of 0
points. To allow for emergencies and illness, one exam score (lowest) will be dropped at the end of the
semester. Hence, you may opt out from the final exam if you are satisfied with your cumulative
scores from the three in-term exams. Your three best scores together will count for 90% of your
grade.

Pop quizzes will be given at random time during the semester. These quizzes will count for 10% of
the final grade. There are also NO make-ups for pop quizzes.

The total scores of all students will be curved and used for the assignment of grades. Historically, a
student whose final score ranks at the median range typically would get a grade of B+ to B. Grades
will be based only on performance on the exams and pop quizzes. There will be NO opportunity to make
up an exam, re-take an exam, or to complete extra credit to improve a grade (i.e., the grade is based on
performance, not effort).

Interactive Classroom

Class announcements, lecture notes, handouts, and example of past exam can be found at the university
CANVAS website.

We hope you all will take advantage of this site to help each other prepare for class and study for exams.
You should download and print out the lecture files before each lecture. Such files can be found under the
Modules link in the left column.

Attendance and pop quiz answers will be recorded by iClicker. Your pop quiz scores will NOT be posted
on Canvas until the end of the semester. Thus, you should keep track of your scores on your own. YOU
SHOULD REGISTER YOUR iCLICKER REMOTE CONTROLS WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF
CLASS THROUGH CANVAS. DO NOT USE SAFARI AS YOUR WEB BROWSER FOR THIS
PURPOSE. FIREFOX IS OK.

Academic accommodations for students with disabilities:

Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of
Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259,
http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/.

Accommodations for religious Holidays:

As per University policy, accommodations will be made for religious holidays. A student must make the
instructor aware of a needed religious-related absence at least fourteen days prior to the class absence or
on the first class day for holidays that fall within the first two weeks of the semester.

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty:

Cell phones are not allowed during exams. Any student found to be using a cell phone will be assumed to
be cheating. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from The University. Since
such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of The University, policies on
scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
 BIO 320 CELL BIOLOGY TENTATIVE SCHEDULE, 2017, FALL, 48600
Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 11:00 am
DATE SUBJECT Reading in Alberts
6th Edition.
Before 0. General Background: Bonds, Molecules, Amino Acids. Cellular Chapter 2: pg 94-95
semester Components, Protein Structures, Protein Function. Chapter 3: pg 109-127
starts You will be responsible for these materials in your exams
AUG 31 1. Course Introduction Chapter 8: pg 452-458;
Methodology, Microscopy, etc Chapter 9: pg 529-549;
554-562
SEP 5 Methodology, Microscopy, etc
7 2. Protein Folding, Post-translational Modifications and Chapter 3: 153-160;
Degradation Chapter 6: pg 353-361
12 3. Membrane Structure Chapter 10
14 4. Membrane Trafficking - Overview Chapter 12: pg 669-691
Proteins into the ER, Signal Peptide
19 5. Coated Vesicles, Rabs, SNAREs Chapter 13: pg 695-713
21 6. Traffic through the Golgi and from the Golgi Chapter 13: pg 713-730
26 7. Exocytosis and Endocytosis Chapter 13: pg 730-750
28 8. Cell Signaling I: General Principles Chapter 15: pg 813-831
OCT 3 EXAM 1 (Lectures 1-7)
tentative
5 9. Cell Signaling II: G-Protein Coupled Receptors Chapter 15: pg 832-849
10 Cell Signaling II: G-Protein Coupled Receptors
12 10. Cell Signaling III: Receptor Kinases Chapter 15: pg 850-863
17 11. Cytoskeleton I Introduction, Actin, Regulators and Motility Chapter 16
19 Cytoskeleton I Introduction, Actin, Regulators and Motility Chapter 16
24 12. Cytoskeleton II Actin motor and Muscle Contraction Chapter 16
26 13. Cytoskeleton III Microtubule Chapter 16
31 14. Cytoskeleton IV Microtubule Regulators and Motors Chapter 16
NOV 2 EXAM 2 (Lectures 8-13)
tentative
7 15. Cell Cycle I Chapter 17: pg 963-979;
1010-1018
9 16. Cell Cycle II Chapter 17: pg 963-979;
1010-1018
14 17. Mechanics of Cell Division I Chapter 17: pg 978-
1004
16 18. Mechanics of Cell Division II Chapter 17: pg 978-
1004
21 19. Apoptosis I Chapter 18
28 20. Apoptosis II Chapter 18
30 21. Cell Junctions and Cell-Cell Adhesion I Chapter 19: pg 1035-
1057
DEC 5 Review Chapter 19: pg 1035-
1057
7 EXAM 3 (Lectures 14-21)
tentative
TBA FINAL EXAM Comprehensive