Cell Biology of Tissue Development and Function

Special Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology
BMB550 Section 003 (CRN 32069)
4 credits
Tues/Thurs 8:00-9:15

Course Coordinators:
Doug Spicer, Ph.D., spiced@mmc.org
Lucy Liaw, Ph.D., liawl@mmc.org

Course Syllabus

Lecture Materials (password required)

Description: This course addresses the cellular biology of tissue development in the context of receptor signaling, cell-cell interactions, and tissue function.

Format: The course will be a combination of lectures and critique and discussion  of primary research papers. There will also be a mid-term and final exam.

Grading: The combination of 6 paper critiques (40%) and 2 exams (30% each) will be evaluated for the final grade.

Paper critiques: Primary research papers will be assigned as indicated in the syllabus. Students are expected to critically read, understand, and be prepared to orally discuss the work. In addition, a 1-2 page written critique (guidelines will be given) for each assigned paper is due on the day of the paper discussion. Student participation in the discussion is an important part of the grade.

Faculty: This course will be broadcast through the videoconferencing facilities between MMCRI, UMaine Orono, and the Jackson Laboratory. The faculty for this course are all at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute.

Readings: Background readings for this course will be primarily recent review articles that will be posted. There is no required textbook for the course, but any of the texts listed below would be useful for studying.

Recommended texts:

Cell Biology, Pollard and Earnshaw. Updated 1st Edition, 2004
Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, and Walter. 4th Edition, 2007
Molecular Cell Biology, Lodish, Berk, Zipursky, Matsudaira, Baltimore, and Darnell. 4th Edition, 2000