Pre-requisite(s)

None

Recommended Book(s)

H. Lodish, A. Berk, S. L. Zipursky, P. Matsudaira, D. Baltimore, And J. Darnell.Molecular Cell Biology,4th Edition. Published By WH Freeman

Reference Book(s)

B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, And P. Walter. Molecular Biology Of The Cell, Garland Science.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Introduces the structure and functions of cells, including macromolecules, cell metabolism, cell division, differentiation, cytoskeletal organization, and cell communication.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

Understand the structures and basic components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including macromolecules, membranes, and organelles
Understand the utility of cellular components in generating and utilizing energy in cells
Illustrate the cellular components underlying mitotic cell division.

COURSE CONTENTS

Cell Biology Introduction

  • Introduction to the Study of Cell Biology
  •  The Chemical Basis of Life
  •  Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology

Energy

  • Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Mitochondrion and Aerobic Respiration
  • Photosynthesis

Molecular organization of cells

Chemistry of molecules:

  • Covalent and hydrogen bonds
  • Water and polarity: hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic
  • Organic molecules, functional groups
  • Polymer macromolecules
  • Monomers and polymers
  • Monosaccharides and carbohydrates
  • Nucleotides and nucleic acids
  • Nucleotides, sugar-phosphate backbone
  • Amino acids and proteins
  • Roles of different macromolecules:
  • Enzymes

Membranes

  • The Structure and Function of the Plasma Membrane
  • Cytoplasmic Membrane Systems
  • Interactions Between Cells and Their Environment

Intracellular Sorting & Maintenance of Cellular Compartments

The cellular Nucleus, Nuclear Matrix and Gene Expression

Nucleus (Genetic Information)

  • The Nature of the Gene and Genome
  • Expression of Genetic Information

Cytoskeleton

  • Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility

Cell Signaling

  • Cellular Reproduction
  • Cell Signaling and Cancer

Cell cycle and cell division

  • The key roles of mitosis and meiosis during the life cycle.
  • Compare and contrast different life cycle strategies, focusing on the human life cycle
  • Stages of mitosis and meiosis, highlighting similarities and differences.
  • Stages of the cell cycle; focus on behavior of chromosomes.
  • Origins of genetic variation, including independent assortment and crossing over, which happen during meiosis, combined with random fertilization.