MCDB 4650 ......................DEVELOPMENTAL  BIOLOGY.....................Spring 2009

 
General Introductory Information

This course provides an introduction to invertebrate and vertebrate embryology and to current knowledge about the molecular, cellular, and genetic basis of animal development.  This course is designed somewhat differently from most other required courses you have taken.  Read the information below carefully and familiarize yourself with the website; we will discuss the course rationale and organization during the first class on January 12.

Web Home Page: http://www.colorado.edu/MCDB/MCDB4650/

Classes: The classes are 12:30-1:45 pm, TU(T) TH(R), MCDB A120.  The syllabus of class topics with links to lecture notes and powerpoints is accessible from the syllabus page.

Office hours:  Wednesdays 10-12 (B129 Porter)

Problem solving sessions (highly recommended!):  These will meet at six different times during the week for one hour, and will be run by undergraduate Learning Assistants and Teaching Assistants.  There will be a web sign up form (see home page for link).  We request that you sign up for one weekly session, and only come to that session.  These sessions are not required, but you will form a working group and get much more out of the course if you go to them.

Review Sessions. We will have a review before each quiz (see syllabus).  The reviews will be each Friday before the Monday quizzes, from 3:30-5 pm in A120.

Textbook and other supplements: The principal REQUIRED text for this course is Developmental Biology, 8th ed., by Scott Gilbert.  This book includes traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of development, as we do in this course.  The reading recommended for each lecture is intended to provide details, background, and explanation of the topics in the lecture notes. There will be a few additional reading assignments (primarily journal articles):  these will be available on the web site.

We will also post lecture notes and powerpoint slides for each lecture. You should study this information and the relevant textbook reading BEFORE coming to class.  You are responsible for learning this material (see below). Class periods will be designed to further explain and help you learn the difficult concepts.

We will make references to Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th edition, by B. Alberts et al. If you do not have a copy of this book, this edition is available online, in a searchable format (type in the figure number or a key word). I will also put it on reserve. The 6th edition of Developmental Biology is also available online (see links to both Alberts and Gilbert from main web page).

This class also requires that you purchase an i-Clicker Response Pad from the bookstore. 

Grading: Grading will be based on a point system. There are problem sets, in-class assignments, quizzes, and participation points (clickers) each week.  You may miss three classes without penalty, drop your lowest quiz score, and drop your two lowest problem set scores.   There are 5 quizzes in this class, four of them on Monday evenings, as described when you registered.  You must be able to take these quizzes at that time (Mondays 6-7 pm) in order to remain registered for the class.  The points are distributed as follows (500 total):

Problem Sets (due Fridays at midnight, 10 pts each. 11 sets will be counted)

110 points

Quizzes (55 pts each. Best 4 out of 5)

220 points

In-class participation (2.5 pt/day. 3 free misses.)

67 points

Pre-lecture questions (2 pts/week -- 9 sets will be counted)

18 points

Cumulative Final Exam

80 points

Surveys

 5 points

 
This class is structured such that your participation is essential, for you to do well as well as for the course as a whole.  We believe you will find that the course is more rewarding and more fun, and that you will learn and remember concepts with less effort, if you actively prepare for and participate in every class period.  Since it may be different from many other large courses you have taken, the structure of this course may initially seem a bit complicated! Below is an explanation of each of the components of the class.  You will be working in a group during class and out of class, and in the process, we hope you will learn from your group members as well as from the instructors, TAs, and LAs.  

In class participation:  You will get 2.5 points for clicker participation every class period, up to 67 total points.  A typical class period will consist of some lecturing and some discussion and problem solving.  In every class period, we will ask questions that you will answer using your clickers, and will encourage you to talk to your neighbors. For this reason, we will be asking you to form groups with other students, and that you sit with your group members in every class period. You can miss 3 class periods without incurring a penalty for participation.

Pre-lecture questions: due every non-quiz week by 10 AM on Tuesdays:  At the beginning of every week (except the first), there will be a few questions posted on CU Learn (2 pts each week). The idea of these questions is to encourage you to do the reading and prepare for class, and for us to see what topics are challenging (from your answers). The syllabus reflects all of the due dates for these questions.

Problem Sets: due every week by midnight on Fridays : Each Friday we will post a set of questions on CU Learn.   You will be given time to generate answers to these questions with your group in the problem solving sessions (or on your own).  Each person then must submit their own answers, in their own words online by the following Friday midnight deadline. 

Quizzes:  Instead of high-stakes midterms, we will have 5 shorter quizzes, administered on 4 Monday nights from 6-7 (see syllabus) Each quiz is worth 55 points, and will test your learning of material covered during the previous 3 weeks (about 6 class periods per quiz). Your lowest quiz score will be dropped. There will be review sessions on the Friday before each quiz to help prepare you.

Group work:  In the first week of class, you will select a group of 2 or 3 other class members to work with during class time.  Please sit at the same table with these group members for every class period.

Missing Class:  Due to the heavy emphasis on in-class work, your attendance in class is critical!  However, in order to prevent many requests for excused absences due to illness or interviews, etc, we will automatically excuse up to 3 absences.  We also have structured the class so that you can miss one of each type of assignment (problem set, pre-lecture questions, quiz) without penalty. We will automatically drop your low scores on these assignments at the end of the semester. Because of this policy, we cannot excuse additional absences or provide makeup work !

It is your responsibility to check the web page and CU Learn frequently for updates!

 

Pre-requisites: The pre-requisites for this course are a passing grade(C- or better) in MCDB 2150 and 2151 (Genetics), MCDB 3120 and 3140 (Cell Biology), and MCDB 3400 (Molecular Genetics) or MCDB 3500 (Molecular Biology), or equivalent courses elsewhere.  Students lacking these prerequisites will not be allowed to register except by special permission from the instructors.