Winter 2023
UNION COLLEGE, SCHENECTADY, NY
Meeting Time and Location:  M,W,F 8:00 AM-9:05 AM in Olin 115

SYLLABUS OF STUDY

  • COURSE OBJECTIVES
    • The main objectives of this course are to understand some of the fundamental concepts in the the flow of genetic information in a cell and how that flow is regulated.  Emphasis will be placed on describing some of the underlying subcellular events and how they impact on the behavior of a typical cell.  These events include the processes of replication, transcription, and translation, protein structure, and regulation of gene expression.  We will try and understand how structure is integrated with function, and the means by which the cell carries out these important processes.
  • TEXTBOOK (required)
    • “Essential Cell Biology, 5th Edition” by Bruce Alberts et al. (2019), published by Garland Science, Inc. New York 978-0393680362.  This textbook is required, as there will be assigned readings (please see lecture schedule) that will either complement or expand upon the material presented during lectures.  However, the lecture period remains the most important and efficient way of learning the material in the course.
    • Additional readings will be provided via Nexus
  • LECTURE PRESENTATIONS
    • Lectures will be given every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8:00 AM and 9:05 AM in Olin 115.  Presentations will make use of traditional teaching tools as well as assorted electronic resources .  I will rely heavily on Nexus to transmit files including supplemental readings and slides presented in class.  If you have any problems please let me know so I can find another way to get you the required files.
  • GRADES

    Evaluation

    Date

    % of final grade
    Term-Test #1 (tentatively) 1/20 14
    Term-Test #2 (tentatively) 2/8 14
    Term-Test #3 (tentatively) 2/24 14
    Final exam TBA 20
    Group project- Pharmaceutical Infographic 3/10 12
    Quizzes (TENTATIVE: 1/13, 1/30, 2/17, 3/3) 14
    Other assignments PRN 8
    Instructor evaluation/class participation 4

TENTATIVE  BIOLOGY 205 OUTLINE

(We may cover a greater or fewer number of topics, depending upon the time available)

TOPICS FOR LECTURES Readings
Course overview/ Central dogma Ch. 1 p. 4-5
A brief review of chemistry Ch. 2 p. 39-79
Experimental evidence for DNA as the genetic material Ch. 5 p.193-195
Structure of DNA and the Watson-Crick model Ch. 5 p. 173-178
Chromosome structure and packaging Ch. 5 p. 178-192
DNA replication: components and mechanism Ch. 6 p. 199-214
DNA repair Ch. 6 p. 215-223
Expression of genetic information: Transcription Ch. 7 p. 227-237
mRNA processing (5’ and 3’ end modification, intron splicing) Ch. 7 p. 237-243
The genetic code & translation of proteins Ch. 7 p. 243-249
Protein Translation: Components and mechanism Ch. 7 p. 249-256
Elements of protein structure & function Ch. 4 p. 117-139 142-143, 146-148
Protein degradation Ch. 7 p. 256-258
Protein targeting & post-translational modifications Ch. 15 p. 495-512, 516-519
Cell signaling Ch. 16
Control of Gene Expression Ch. 8