Cellular function lies at the root of all complex and simple biological systems. This course will expose you to the fundamental mechanisms that allow cells to maintain the system of proteins and biomolecules required for them to replicate with high fidelity, to maintain stable functional states, to differentiate in response to external cues and to ultimately form complex organizations of cells (i.e., tissues). We will apply an experimental approach to a classic problem in cell biology. We will master “blackboard” experimental techniques to allow us to explore the remarkable transformation of a monolayer of cells after being “wounded.” Under such conditions, cells surrounding the wound change their organization and programming in order to migrate, divide, and differentiate to fill in the wound.

Latest episodes of the podcast The Inner Workings of Cells, Winter 2008

• Class Overview
• Goals of Cell Biology
• Antibodies
• Subcellular Fractionation
• Cell Membranes
• Membrane Reactions
• Membrane Proteins
• Secretory Pathway
• Protein Movement
• Protein Movement
• ER Reactions
• Vesicular Transport
• Review of Protein Trafficking
• Review for Midterm 1
• Cell Movement
• Filament Dynamics
• Intermediate Filaments
• Intermediate Filaments
• Microtubules
• Microtubles and Cell Motility
• Cell Division
• Regulation of Cell Division
• Review for Midterm 2
• Cell Division
• Cell Signaling
• Signal Transduction
• Signal Transduction
• Cell Signaling & Cancer Cells
• Review for Final Exam