CellularBiologySyllabus

FallSemester2016
COURSE:
LOCATION
INSTRUCTOR:
CONTACT
INFORMATION:
OFFICE HOURS:
Teaching Assistant:
Contact information:
Office hours:
TEXTBOOK:

PREREQUISITES:
COURSE OUTLINE:
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

COURSE CONTENT:

BIO 3813.001 Monday and Wednesday; 6:00-7:15 P.M.

FLN 2.02.10
Dr. Jurgen Engelberth
Office BSE 3.112 (458 7831)
Laboratory (458 5466)
Email: jurgen.engelberth@utsa.edu
Monday 4-6pm by appointment
Loan Lexi Doan
Email: cni007@my.utsa.edu
By appointment
Essential Cell Biology. 4th Edition. Garland Sciences.
ISBN 978-0-8153-4454-4.
Alternatively: Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th Edition. Garland Science.
ISBN 978-0-8153-4105-5 (hardcover) or 978-0-8153-4106-2 (paperback).
BIO 3513 (Biochemistry). Concurrent enrollment in BIO 3822 (Cell Biology
Laboratory) is recommended.
The course is described on the attached Topic and Exam Schedule.
1. To reinforce your understanding of the fundamental biological processes and
concepts that occur within a cell and its environment.
2. To expand your knowledge about the cellular functions and processes in a
more detailed fashion.
3. To learn about current methodology, their advantages and disadvantages,
used in the study of cellular processes.
4. To develop and improve your communication, evaluation, and writing skills.
Content for this course is derived from the textbook, the primary scientific literature,
and from current topics in the biological sciences. In addition, videos will be used to
enhance understanding and demonstrate practical applications of topics learned
during the course.

Evaluations: Three regular exams and one comprehensive final exam will be given during the course. Each
regular exam is worth up to 20 %points. The final exam contributes up to 40 %points. Exam scores are summarized
in Table 1. A schedule listing the topics will be provided. Note that topics and dates may change. The mechanism by
which changes will be communicated is through lectures only. There will be opportunities for extra credit based on
topics discussed in class. Extra credit has to be turned in at a certain date as determined by the instructor to count.
Extra credit will be counted towards the final points.
Grades: Letter grades are based on the following: In order to receive
an A, you must earn 90 points. To receive a B, you must earn 80-89
points and a C is assigned for 70-79 points. A letter grade of D is
assigned for 60-69 points and an F is assigned for 59 points.

Table 1. Exam points

Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Exam
Total points

20
20
20
40
100

Attendance: Student attendance at all lectures is required. If the

instructor is off-site (e.g., attending an out-of-town meeting), then an
alternate instructor will be on-site and/or students will be given specific reading assignments. Students are
expected to understand all of the material in each of the designated pages/chapters and the material presented in
class lectures and material in the reading assignments.
Missed exams: Make-up examinations will be given only under certain extenuating circumstances and are
generally more difficult than scheduled exams. A student who is compelled to be absent from the final examination,
for any reason, will be required to petition the Dean for permission to postpone the final examination. Preferably, a
request by a student to postpone the final examination should be made prior to the final examination, but in no case
later than 48 hours after the final examination.
Class evaluation: Students who participate in class evaluation will receive a 1% bonus towards their final grade.

Policy on student behavior: Students are expected to maintain civil behavior in class and to never interfere with
the learning experience of other students. Cell phones and pagers should not be used during class.
University Policy on Cheating: Students are expected to be above reproach in scholastic activities. Students
who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of
failure in the course and dismissal from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to,
cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in
part to another person, taking an exam for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student
of the attempt to commit such acts. Regents Rules of Regulations, Part one, Chapter VI, section 3, Subsection
3.2 Subdivision 3.22. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the
University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

LECTURE
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3

Date

Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
Lecture 7

8/24
8/29
8/31
9/5
9/7
9/12
9/14
9/19

Lecture 8
EXAM #1
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 12

9/21
9/26
9/28
10/3
10/5
10/10

Lecture 13
Lecture 14

10/12
10/17

Lecture 15

10/19

EXAM #2
Lecture 16
Lecture 17
Lecture 18
Lecture 19
Lecture 20
Lecture 21

10/24
10/26
10/31
11/2
11/7
11/9
11/14

Lecture 22
EXAM #3
Lecture 23
Lecture 24
Lecture 25
Lecture 26

11/16
11/21
11/23
11/28
11/30
12/5

Lecture 27
FINAL
EXAM

12/7

LECTURE TOPICS
Welcome
Chapter 1: Introduction into cell biology
Chapter 2: Chemical Components of the cell
Labor day
Chapter 3: Energy, Catalysis, and Biosynthesis
Chapter 5: DNA and Chromosomes
Chapter 6: DNA Replication, Repair and Recombination
Chapter 7 and 8: From DNA to Protein: How Cells Read the Genome;
Control of gene expression
Review of material for exam
Chapters 1-8
Special Topics in Cell Biology
Return and discussion of exam
Chapter 9: How Genes and Genomes evolve
Chapter 10: Modern Recombinant DNA Technology, Analyzing and
Manipulating DNA and RNA
Chapters 4: Proteins, Structure and Function
Chapter 11/12: Membrane Structure; Membrane Transport of Small
Molecules and Membrane Electrical Properties
Chapter 15: Intracellular Compartments and Protein Sorting,
Intracellular Vesicular Traffic
Chapters 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
Chapter 13/14: Energy Conversion: Mitochondria and Chloroplasts 1
Chapter 13/14: Energy Conversion: Mitochondria and Chloroplasts 2
Return and discussion of exam
Chapter 16: Cell Signaling
Chapter 17: The Cytoskeleton
Chapter 20: Cell Junctions, Cell Adhesions, and the Extracellular
Matrix
Chapter 18: The Cell Cycle, Apoptosis
Chapters 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20
Evolution of the cell
Special Topics in Cell Biology: Microscopy
Return and discussion of exam
Special Topics in Cell Biology: Modern Gene Expression Analyses
and Manipulation
Review of course material for final

Mon, December 12, 06:00 pm - 08:30 pm

The University of Texas at San Antonio Academic Honor Code

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Preamble
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ourselves, our university, and our community.

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Honor Pledge
In support of the ideals of integrity, the students of the University of Texas at San Antonio pledge:

As a UTSA Roadrunner I live with honor and integrity.

C. Shared responsibility
The University of Texas at San Antonio community shares the responsibility and commitment to
integrity and the ethical pursuit of knowledge and adheres to the UTSA Honor Code.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a community of scholars, where integrity, excellence,
inclusiveness, respect, collaboration, and innovation are fostered.
As a Roadrunner,
I will:
Uphold the highest standards of academic and personal integrity by practicing and expecting fair and
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Respect and accept individual differences, recognizing the inherent dignity of each person;
Contribute to campus life and the larger community through my active engagement; and
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