Time Schedule:
Merrill B Hille
CONJ 536
Seattle Campus
A topic of current research interest covered in depth in order to follow a line of investigation and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of various experimental strategies. Offered: jointly with BIOL 546.
Class description
Developmental Cell Biology: This course is the first of a series of 3 CONJ courses in Developmental Biology. This autumn quarter it will meet the first 5 weeks of the quarter (September 29th - November 1st). We will focus on establishment of cell polarity, cell migration and adhesion. These processes are pivotal to generating morphogenetic form in embryos. We will evaluate key studies and introduce new experimental techniques that are advancing our current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie cell migration and adhesion. After covering the historical background of our understanding of how cells migrate and adhere, we will read current papers integrating signaling and the mechanisms of morphogenesis in early embryogenesis.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Class meetings will be a combination of lectures and discussion sessions in which all students will be expected to actively participate. Students will present papers on the topic of the week or be assigned as discussants for each session.
Recommended preparation
The course assumes that students have the knowledge of general biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology equivalent to that covered in upper division undergraduate courses in these areas. The level for cell biology is comparable to that of "The Molecular Biology of the Cell" textbook by Alberts et al.
Class assignments and grading
Several primary research articles will be required reading for each lecture and discussion session. As a practical goal for graduate and professional training, students will explain figures from research papers and lead a discussion of the results and conclusions.
This is a seminar course and its success is based on active participation of everyone. Your final grade will be based on your level of participation in the discussion sessions throughout the course and the quality of your prepared oral presentations. The course is 1.5 credits and meets first five weeks of the quarter.
