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Semester 1, Fall 2006
Semester 2, Spring 2007
Semester 1, Fall 2007
Semester 2, Spring 2008

Semester I, Fall 2006

BIO 254A - Advanced Microbiology

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES: This course focuses on the basic immunological responses of the host to infectious agents, the basic biology of viruses, bacteria and parasites, and the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause disease. Our primary objective is to establish a useful body of knowledge relevant to microbial pathogens that will facilitate the understanding of human infectious disease. Emphasis will be placed on a subset of the most clinically significant and best characterized pathogens. Prerequisites: biochemistry; genetics is recommended.

LECTURE PERIODS: Wednesday; 3:00-5:30PM, followed by 30 minutes of discussion. Class is scheduled to begin on September 6 and end on December 13, 2006.

TEXTBOOKS
Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System, 2nd Edition. Abbas and Lichtman. ISBN: 1-4160-2974-5 Saunders Elsevier Press.

Schaechter's Mechanisms of Microbial Disease 4th Edition.
Engleberg, Di Rita, and Dermody. ISBN: 978-0-7817-5342-5 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Press.

EXAMINATIONS: There will be two exams. The first exam will cover the Immunology and Virology blocks of the course. The second will cover Bacteriology and Parasitology. In addition, quizzes will be administered at the beginning of each lecture period and will cover material from previous lecture.

GRADING: A final course grade is determined from the weighted average of Exam I (counting 40%), Exam 2 (counting 40%), and the sum of all quizzes (counting 20%). An average grade of 70 or above is required to the pass the course.

Semester II, Spring 2007

BI0131A - Analysis of Development

Instructors:

Richard Freiman: 401 863-9633
Richard_Freiman@brown.edu

Kristi Wharton: 401 863-1951
Kristi_Wharton@brown.edu

Required text:

Developmental Biology 8th ed. Scott Gilbert, Sinauer Associates, Inc. (2006)

Course requirements:

1. Regular attendance in lecture.

2. Completion of assigned reading.
Assigned readings will be taken from Scott Gilbert’s outstanding text “Developmental Biology” 8th edition (Sinauer Associates, Inc. ISBN 0-87893-250-X), as well as from the primary literature. Reading material for lectures is not solely from the text, therefore, use the index and assigned chapters in Gilbert as a guideline for background reading. Additional readings will be assigned in class and posted on the course website.

3. Satisfactory completion of written assignments. These include:

Exams: Two in class exams (March 13 and May 15) (100pts. each)

Quizzes: Twelve quizzes administered in class prior to each lecture. (10 pts. each)

Final student research paper: A short 3-4 pg research synopsis will be prepared by each student on a topic or question in developmental biology that has not been covered in class. Choice of topic requires faculty consultation and approval. (40 pts.)
Paper due: May 15

Course Content

BI0131A will examine the mechanisms underlying animal development by focusing on experimental analysis by drawing together current and landmark investigations at the molecular, cellular and structural levels. We will begin by discussing the basic principles underlying developmental biology and the initial processes that produce an embryo consisting of three germ layers. Here we will examine the cell and developmental biology of fertilization, cleavage, and gastrulation and discuss various experimental approaches to studying the mechanisms that regulate the early periods of development. We will then consider the processes that are involved in controlling the size of a tissue, or an entire organism, and its ability to renew itself. The process of development is progressive with the fates of cells being assigned at different times in the developmental period.

We will next examine the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the establishment of the body plan of various animals. In all cases, we will examine the specification of the body axes, including establishment of the major body regions and the nature of the genes that control them. We will examine the role of cell interactions, both with other cells and with the extracellular matrix, in regulating programs of cell fate determination. The mechanisms of cell communication by soluble factors will be examined, which will include the study of the effects of growth factor homologues in development. We will also consider the development of specific organs, such as the limb and heart in terms of multicellular organization and differentiation which occurs in the later stages of development.

Finally, we will examine the genes and mechanisms governing the development of sexual characteristics, as well as the influence hormones have on development, as well as sexual development. One of the most remarkable aspects of development that has come to light in recent years is the extraordinary conservation of process between different species across the animal kingdom. We will use the role of homeotic genes in development as the focus of a discussion highlighting how understanding a process in one organism aids our understanding of similar processes in other organisms. As such, the dramatic evolutionary conservation exhibited in homeotic gene regulation allows us to examine the mechanisms of pattern formation and development from an evolutionary perspective.

COURSE GOALS
1. To familiarize students with the subject matter of developmental biology, including basic concepts and experimental analysis. Developmental biology is a broad, highly interdisciplinary field and we will not attempt a comprehensive survey of all its aspects. Instead, representative topics of central significance in development have been selected for in-depth coverage.

2. To encourage students to place the "facts" that they learn into an appropriate operational and theoretical framework, and to learn the limitations and transient nature of "facts".

3. To help students become aware that often there are several overlapping, sometimes mutually exclusive frameworks for the analysis of developmental mechanisms and the interpretation of experimental results. To help them learn to recognize and understand these frameworks and to evaluate them critically.

Analysis of Development - Course Schedule
Tuesday 3-6pm

Semester I, Fall 2007

PHP2120 S02 Introduction to Epidemiological Research

OVERVIEW: Epidemiology quantifies patterns and determinants of human population health, with a goal of reducing the burden of disease, injury, and disability. Students will learn the principles of epidemiologic methods and their application for analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic data.  Specifically, through class lecture, discussion, problem sets, study groups and quizzes students will learn the basic principles of epidemiology, how to estimate and interpret measures of disease frequency and measures of effect, how to critically evaluate the medical literature, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of epidemiologic study designs.  Students will learn about sources of bias in epidemiologic research.

Instructor: Kate Lapane
Click here to view instructor bio

Course Location and time:
Tuesdays 3-6pm at Pfizer

Course Syllabus
Click here (Adobe PDF) to view PHP2120 S02 syllabus

Semester 2, Spring 2008

Advanced Biochemistry - B1270-S02

Instructor: Sam Beale

Course Description:
This course will focus on areas central to the discipline of biochemistry including amino acids, protein structure and function, kinetics, bioenergetics, metabolic pathways, and integration of metabolism.  Assigned readings from the textbook will be supplemented with analysis and discussion of recent research papers.

Course will be held on Tuesdays from 3-6pm in the 118W auditorium (Groton).

Core Curriculum Requirement: Yes

Syllabus: Click Here for PDF Download