Cell Biology

I taught Cell Biology (Biology 212) at the University of Puget Sound in the spring of 2003. A course overview and logistical details are included in the official course syllabus.

Great moments

The "Great Moments in Cell Biology" presentations give students a chance to teach each other about important and interesting breakthroughs in the field of cell biology. Included here are the group assignments, guidelines for executing an effective presentation, and a link to the UPS Blackboard site (where slides and students' questions for each other were posted).

Lab exercises

for Jan. 27-29:		Discussion: ethical issues in biology
for Feb. 3-5:		Light microscopy
for Feb. 10-12:		Electron microscopy
for Feb. 17-19:		Gel electrophoresis
for Feb. 24-26:		Differential centrifugation
for Mar. 3-5:		Absorption spectroscopy
for Mar. 10-12:		Discussion: primary literature
for Mar. 24 to Apr. 2:		Enzymes
for Apr. 7-16:		Western blot
for Apr. 21-23:		Discussion: review article
for Apr. 28-30:		Immunology

Quizzes

for in-class quiz #1:		review sheet; answer key
for in-class quiz #2:		review sheet; answer key
for take-home quiz #1:		answer key
for in-class quiz #3:		review sheet; practice quiz; answer key
for take-home quiz #2:		answer key
for the final exam:		review questions; practice questions; answer key

Reading assignments

for Jan. 22:		Karp, pp. 1-7
for Jan. 24:		Karp, pp. 7-30
for Jan. 27:		Karp, pp. 32-41
for Jan. 29:		Karp, pp. 41-64
for Jan. 31:		none
for Feb. 3:		Karp, pp. 64-71
for Feb. 5:		Karp, pp. 71-80
for Feb. 7:		Karp, pp. 35-6
for Feb. 10:		Karp, pp. 83-96
for Feb. 12:		Karp, pp. 96-105
for Feb. 14:		none
for Feb. 17:		Karp, pp. 105-20
for Feb. 19:		none
for Feb. 21:		Karp, pp. 122-40
for Feb. 24:		Karp, pp. 140-165
for Feb. 26:		none
for Feb. 28:		Karp, pp. 165-80 (focus on 143-4, 162-4, and 173-8)
for Mar. 3:		Karp, start Ch. 5
for Mar. 5:		Karp, to p. 202
for Mar. 7:		Karp, pp. 202-6
for Mar. 10:		Karp, pp. 206-11
for Mar. 12:		Karp, pp. 218-22
for Mar. 14:		none
for Mar. 24:		Karp, pp. 222-33
for Mar. 26:		Karp, pp. 234-41
for Mar. 28:		Karp, pp. 333-42; Experimental Pathways supplement, pp. 6-8
for Mar. 31:		Karp, pp. 342-63
for Apr. 2:		Karp, pp. 363-81
for Apr. 4:		Karp, pp. 382-94
for Apr. 7:		Karp, pp. 628-44
for Apr. 9:		Karp, pp. 644-57; Experimental Pathways supplement, pp. 12-5 and 27-30
for Apr. 11:		Karp, pp. 658-68
for Apr. 14:		Karp, pp. 580-90
for Apr. 16:		none
for Apr. 18:		none
for Apr. 21:		Karp, pp. 671-6
for Apr. 23:		none
for Apr. 25:		Karp, pp. 676-81
for Apr. 28:		Karp, pp. 681-91
for Apr. 30:		Karp, pp. 691-5 and 703-7
for May 2:		Karp, pp. 695-700
for May 5:		Karp, pp. 703-12
for May 7:		none

Cool links

Bad Chemistry
A good explanation of what the term "hydrophobic" really means.

Blackboard at UPS
Includes access to the class discussion board and students' "Great Moments in Cell Biology" PowerPoint slides.

Lee Hartwell, Nobel Laureate
Information from the Nobel Prize website about Hartwell's (and others') contributions to our understanding of the cell cycle.

Penicillin
Information on the history and current uses of penicillin.

Rh factor
An explanation of the "+" or "-" part of your blood type.