Professors: Parsons, Lampe, Hansen and Kappe

Class website: http://courses.washington.edu/ghpbcell/

Class organization

Each week is being taught by a different professor who is responsible for that week in its entirety.  In general, each day will have a lecture followed by a discussion focused on the readings.  On Fridays, there will be an in class quiz.  In some cases the students will be asked to complete an additional writing assignment. 

Primary Text:  Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5^th Ed (Alberts, Johnson, Lewis et al.) Garland Science 2008.  This is on reserve at UW library.  Dr. Parsons also has a copy which you may borrow for a couple hours at a time. 

Readings: Reviews and primary literature will be assigned for reading prior to the lectures and discussions. Visit the Readings page or check your class handouts. 

Paper discussions:

Each student will be assigned to present aspects of a paper once or twice a week, depending on the schedule of that week.  Sometimes this will focus on a technique used in the paper and other times on the background of the paper.  All students will be responsible for being able to discuss the paper and present a figure during class. Link to week 1 assignments.   

Grading policy

Each week will be separately graded and the grades will be averaged to yield the final grade.  The weekly grade will be comprised of the following, unless a professor notifies you their week will be different. 

30% quiz, in class

20% presentation of paper

20% participation

30% writing assignment

Writing assignment. Select one of the papers we read this week and one of the related papers listed for optional or additional reading.  Write a 2-3 page double spaced paper to summarize the approaches and  findings of the new paper and say how they are related to the paper we read for class—how do they extend, confirm or refute the findings or implications and general take home lessons of the paper we discussed.  You can also discuss how it relates to the class lecture and to other readings assigned. The intention is not to make an abstract of the paper.  Make sure you include the reference for both articles.  This paper should be sent by email to the assigning professor by the following Monday at 9 am. 

The final grades will be based on the following standards:

4.0 Excellent and exceptional work for a graduate student. Unusually thorough, well reasoned, sophisticated, and creative.

3.7. Very good work for a graduate student. Some creativity, thorough, good understanding.

3.5. Good work for a graduate student.? Competent with evidence of understanding key issues.

3.3. Adequate work for a graduate student, but some weaknesses are evident.

3.0. Borderline performance for a graduate student. Performance is minimally adequate, but understanding is incomplete.

2.7. Minimum acceptable work for a graduate student. Inadequately developed understanding. Serious weaknesses evident.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, the student should be able to

1) determine which cell biological approaches and techniques are appropriate for different experimental questions.

2) describe functions of cellular compartments

3) convey the principles of protein trafficking within the cell

4) describe the principles of signal transduction and signaling cascades

5) know how the cell cycle is regulated.

6) define the properties of an oncogene and virally related cancers

7) explain the mechanisms of antigen processing for exogenous and endogenous peptides

8) describe the properties of cell death as they pertain to intracellular infection

9) define the major differences and commonalities of detecting and responding to intracellular pathogens.