BIOL 124: Molecular and Cellular Biology

A principles of biology course designed for biology majors and pre-med. students. Detailed study of basic structure and function of living material, with emphasis on cell and molecular biology, genetic mechanisms and their control, reproduction and development, evolution. 72 lecture hours, 54 lab hours.

Reading the required textbook as recommended in the course schedule.

Lab notebooks and research project poster presentations are required each semester. There are also written responses required on exams and quizzes.
Example: Students are required to record their weekly research project results and use those results over seven weeks to prepare a traditional poster presentation that has an introduction, results and discussion section as well as figures and analysis about their lab experiments. They must create a reference citation section and use APA reference guidelines in the body of the paper.

Students are required to create a pamphlet and present a 5 minute presentation on a topic related to metabolism. The student must account for the reliability of sources that they accessed to prepare and the relevance to our class and to biology as a field.
Example: In a group of 2-3, choose one of these metabolic diseases to research. A list of possible diseases are listed below. For your metabolic disease of choice, research the topic and prepare a one page pamphlet OR infographic on the disease of your choice. These pamphlets should resemble those given out or posted at a doctor's office about medical information and be both attractive and informative. In your pamphlet, you should address: * the disease background (symptoms, disease progression, prognosis, etc) * the mutation(s) causing this disease (what gene is mutated, and what happens with the gene product) * the normal function of the gene and protein and how it works in a normal cell/body * how the mutation(s), variations, or lack of protein impact metabolism, using our class diagrams. You can modify the diagrams as needed or make your own. Use quality scientific resources for your pamphlet including at least 2 sources one of which must be a primary or secondary source. You may also use other reliable non-peer reviewed (primary or secondary sources) including Medline, raredisease.org, etc. All sources should be cited in APA formatting in the text and in a bibliography. You will share your research with the class in a 3-5 minute presentation. The presentation should emphasize the impact on metabolism including cell respiration and/or photosynthesis.
Students create a family pedigree illustrating their family and their understanding of genetic principles.
Example: Family Pedigree Instrutions 1. Build a diagram of your family (or a selected family*), using proper pedigree symbols. Indicate where you are on the pedigree. 2. Select one trait from the list below to find one where there are different phenotypes in at least two people in the family.** 3. Show the phenotype of each person on the pedigree. Color or shading with a color-key is a good way of communicating this clearly. Place a ? for each person on the tree that you were not able to test. 4. Research (using a reliable source, does not need to be primary or secondary) whether this trait is dominant, recessive, incomplete, or codominant) and cite your sources. 5. Assign letters appropriately for each allele. List the genotypes clearly for all individuals in the pedigree whenever possible. Assume that the trait is not sex-linked unless you know otherwise. Be sure to use letters where the capital and lowercase forms are clearly different. 6. Predict the probability of one couple on your pedigree having a child of a particular genotype. Make a Punnett Square to show the probability.

Lab, Lecture, Online Education Lecture

5C. Science Laboratory, 5B. Biological Science