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BI-203: Cell Biology

Course Information

Course, prefix, number, & title: BI-203 Cell Biology

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3 class hours

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): BI-201

Course Description in college catalog:

This course will provide insight into the structure, function and regulation of animal cells, including cell cycle, subcellular compartmentalization, signal transduction, and cell-cell interactions. Important experimental techniques that led to current understanding of structure and function of cells will be discussed.

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

AS Biology, also may be used to meet requirement in the Liberal Arts and Sciences (Mathematics and Science) Associate in Science (A.S) Degree Program

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

  1. Communicate effectively in various forms

  2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

  3. Reason quantitatively as required in various fields of interest and in everyday life

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate understanding of the cell as the basic unit of life and discuss the structure, roles and interactions of organelles. Integrate the abundance/absence of organelles with cellular activities.

  2. Explain the structure of the genetic material and its relationship to nuclear structure and function. Define chromatin remodeling and correlate chromatin structure with gene expression and cell cycle progression. Discuss gene expression, and correlate the multiple levels of gene expression regulation with cell activity.

  3. Provide a conceptual framework for the mechanisms by which proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates are moved from their sites of synthesis to their ultimate locations. Predict the mechanisms involved in cellular trafficking of a given macromolecule.

  4. Define signal transduction and describe the molecules and molecular interactions used by cells to communicate and sense neighboring cells and the environment.

  5. Explain the structure of the cytoskeleton and demonstrate an understanding of the ways the cytoskeletal elements enable cell activities such as motility, intracellular transport, and regulation of gene expression.

  6. Provide a conceptual overview of cell cycle regulation. Correlate the abundance, location, and activation of cell cycle regulators with cell cycle progression. Understand the process of cell division and relate it to cancer.

Program-specific outcomes

  • Demonstrate proficiency in acquiring, processing, and analyzing scientific information in all its forms, as related to biology

  • Proficiently convey information specific to the discipline, through scientific writing and oral presentation

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

Three multiple choice exams will be given, each with the same weight. Two research papers will be assigned, each with the same weight. 70% of the grade will be from the exams, 30% will be from the papers.

Course topics and assignments (include laboratory topics when applicable)

Week - Topics

  1. Introduction to the eukaryotic cell: organelles, internal membranes, cytosol, cytoskeleton; Unity and diversity of cells, Chemical components of cells

  2. Proteins: Shape and structure of proteins, Folding and functions: enzymes, motor proteins

  3. DNA structure and function, DNA replication, DNA repair

  4. Gene expression: DNA to RNA, RNA to protein RNA and the origins of life

  5. Regulation of gene expression and evolution of genomes; Gene regulation; Genetic variation

  6. Plasma membrane: structure and function, Membrane proteins, Carrier proteins, Ion channels, Intercellular junctions

  7. Enzymes and Biosynthesis, Catalysis and the use of energy by cells

  8. Cell Respiration, Breakdown of sugars and fats, Electron transport and proton pumping, Regulation of metabolism

  9. Intracellular trafficking: Membrane-bound organelles, Protein sorting, Vesicular transport, Secretory pathways, Endocytic pathways

  10. Cytoskeleton: Intermediate filaments, Microtubules Actin filaments

  11. Signal transduction pathways and cell Communication: General principles of cell signaling, G protein linked receptors, Enzyme linked receptors

  12. Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis

  13. Control of cell cycle and apoptosis Control of cell numbers in multicellular organisms.

  14. Cancer biology: Tissue maintenance, Tissue disruption by cancer

  15. Final Examination

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.

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