Advanced Molecular Biology

Fall, 2012 Ewing

Advanced Molecular Biology BIO 180

Course Description: Examination of the structure of genes and genomes, the mechanisms by which they change, and the use of evolutionary relationships to understand function. Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression from gene to phenotype and the tools used to study these processes. Applications of molecular tools in medicine and biotechnology and the ethics around these approaches. Lecture two hours. Laboratory six hours. Fee course. Prerequisites: BIO 121 and 184. Units: 4.0.

Instructor: Nick Ewing, Sequoia 214, phone: 278-6707, email: [email protected], http://www.csus.edu/indiv/e/ewingn/index.htm

Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:30 PM. Feel free to email me or stop by my office if additional time is needed.

Schedule: Lecture: Section 1: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00-1:50 pm. Rvr 2010 Laboratory: Section 2: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00-11:50 am. Squ. 212 Section 3: Monday and Wednesday, 1:00-3:50 pm. Squ. 212 Section 4: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00-11:50 pm. Squ 212

Course Web Links: SacCT will be used for distribution of materials and as a gradebook that is accessible to you.

Texts: Molecular Biology of the Cell. Alberts et al., 5th edition. 2008. Garland Science Publishing, 2008 Laboratory DNA Science. Bloom, Freyer and Micklos. 1995. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, Menlo Park, CA.

Grading: Grades will be based on the following:

In-class and Homework Assignments------100 Lecture Exams ------200 Lecture Final ------150 Lab Exam ------100 Lab Final ------250 Lab notebooks ------120 Lab Quizzes (2 x 20)------40 860 pts

Lab notebooks: Lab notebooks will be collected and evaluated three times during the semester. The elements that should be included in a lab notebook and how these will be evaluated are described in the attached hand-out titled “The Lab Notebook.”

Attendance: Attendance is required. Failure to attend three or more laboratories will result in lowering of the letter grade by one full grade.

Prerequisites: Bio 121, 184

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BIO 180 LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will: 1. build upon their understanding of the gene as the fundamental unit of inheritance. 2. be able to identify potential genes and gene products and to compare genes, genomes, and gene products to reveal evolutionary patterns that provide insight into biological function. 3. be able to identify key model organisms and to describe why the evolutionary relationships between organisms enable us to use these models so effectively to understand biology. 4. understand that the control of gene expression is the fundamental mechanism by which genetic information (genotype) is translated into phenotype and will be able to describe the levels at which gene expression can be regulated. 5. be able to describe the basic tools of molecular biology that are used to understand the structure of genes and genomes and the regulation of gene expression and will be able to design experiments in which these tools are used to address unanswered questions. 6. be able to describe how the tools of molecular biology are being applied in medicine and biotechnology, identify some of the limitations of these techniques, and discuss examples of the ethical questions that surround them.

COURSE POLICIES:

Student Conduct: Cheating

ANY act of cheating will result in a zero on that assignment and, depending upon the seriousness, may result in dismissal from the class and a final grade of "F". Any cheating, or suspected cheating, will be reported to the Dean of Students. Cheating can result in complete dismissal from CSUS.

Actions that will be considered cheating include, but are not limited to:

1. Plagiarism of any form! 2. Communication between students during an exam or quiz. 3. Looking at another student's work. 4. Having written materials other than exam papers out during the exam or quiz. 5. Providing answers to another student during exams or quizzes. 6. Taking on-line quizzes with another individual. 7. Presenting falsified data on research projects.

The University policy on academic honesty can be reviewed at the following web link: http://www.csus.edu/umanual/AcademicHonestyPolicyandProcedures.htm. If you have never read this policy, please take the time to do so because it will help you avoid inadvertently engaging in plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty in all of your classes, not just this one.

Makeup Exam/Quiz Policy:

If due to illness you will not be able to take the scheduled exam, you must contact me by email, phone or other method prior to the exam. You must schedule a makeup exam or quiz at the first class meeting after you return to school or earlier.

Adding/Dropping the Course:

During the first two weeks all adds in all courses in the Department of Biological Sciences are completed by the instructor (not through MySacState).

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During the first two weeks, the course may be dropped using MySacState.

Drops after the second week require serious and compelling reasons (includes medical issues, excessive course load, significant career or job changes).

During weeks three and four a green add/drop form (available in the department office) must be signed by the instructor and the chair. This form is processed in the department office.

After week four, a white generic University Add/Drop form is necessary. (These will be available in the department office beginning Sept. 26th.) This form requires the instructor's, chair's and dean's signatures and is processed in Admissions and Records. Drops after the 4th week will result in a W on your transcript for the course.

The last day to drop is the end of the 6th week.

After the 6th week all drops require approval of the instructor, department chair and dean. Drops during this period must be for career-related or medical reasons beyond control of the student and must be verified in writing by a doctor or employer.

No drops are allowed during the last week of instruction.

Please remember there is no such thing as an automatic drop. You are responsible for entering the drop on either on MySacState or by petition. Failure to do this could result in a grade of "U" or "F".

***Tax credits for students. To learn more see http://www.textbookaid.org