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Internal organisation of the cell. The course will build on the introduction to cell biology in BIOL 111 (BCHM 111) and seek to develop further understanding of the internal workings of the cell.
The course will cover membrane structure, principles of membrane transport and the electrical properties of membranes, intracellular compartments and protein sorting, principles of the cytoskeleton, and the cell cycle and apoptosis. The primary aim of the course is to discuss the principles of cell biology at the level of the individual cell. The topics covered will give students a comprehensive grounding in cells as single entities. This will prepare students for the 3rd year cell biology course that will consider cells at a more advanced level, looking at cells in their social context and how they interact with other cells.As all cells operate using the same basic machinery, experimental work on cells from “simpler” organisms has revolutionised our understanding of human biology and disease. Studies on the control of the cell cycle in yeast, for example have taught us much about human cancer. The use of such model organisms, which also include the wild mustard Arabidopsis, nematode worms and mice, is crucial in biological research and examples of a key process in cell biology from these organisms will be included. The genomes of these organisms have been sequenced, thus we know the molecular make-up of these cells. Genetics and biochemistry can tell us how various parts function individually and a key task for cell biologists is to understand how all of these interact together to form a dynamic living entity.
Students will:Gain a greater appreciation of the internal workings of the cell.Appreciate the sophistication of mechanisms that have evolved to enable the workings of a cell, but at the same time be mindful that we still have much to discover.Become familiar with modern cell biology experimental techniques.Understand the use of “model organisms” - appreciate how experimental findings made on seemingly “lower organisms” such as nematodes and yeast can lead to a better understanding of the complexity of human biology and disease.Appreciate how research in cell biology leads to a better understanding of disease and an understanding of the factors that are pertinent with respect to Māori health and the impact of colonisation.Gain an understanding of both the theory and the practice of cell biology which will make them attractive to potential employers.As a student in this course, I will develop the skills required to:Synthesise information. In everyday life and in many job situations you will be required to read information from different sources, generate your own understanding and develop your own viewpoint. Your understanding of the topics covered in the course will be achieved by reading information obtained from lectures, labs and assigned readings from textbooks and papers. In lectures we will discuss recent research papers and this will develop your abilities to identify the essential elements of research outputs - you will use these skills in report writing. Collect experimental data. Important for research and in governmental and nongovernmental organizations. We will conduct research activities in the lab to provide both the real-world context for lectures and to develop hands-on skills in data collection. Analyse data. Important for research, as well as in a number of private-sector organizations. This skill will be further developed when we assist you to analyse the data we generate in the lab. Write a report on findings. Clear written communication is essential for most professional careers. We will provide you with guidelines on the elements of successful reports.
BIOL111 (=BCHM111) or ENCH281
BCHM253
It is compulsory to wear a lab coat and safety glasses in the laboratory.To purchase approved safety glasses, lab or coats go to https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/science/shop/.The collection point for purchases is inside the southern entry to the Ernest Rutherford Building, Monday to Friday between the hours 8.30 – 10.00 am and 1.30 – 3.00 pm for the first two weeks of the semester.2019 Course Evaluation(Scoring used - 5 = strongly agree, 4 = agree, 3 = neutral, 2 = disagree, 1 = strongly disagree)Question 1 - The materials provided helped me to understand what was required to succeed in this course: 4.7Question 2 - The organisation of this course helped me learn: 4.54Question 3 - I found the workload was appropriate to the level of the course: 4.58Question 4 - I found the assessments thoughout the semester appropriate for the course: 4.6Question 5 - When I sought feedback on my assessments, I found it helpful: 4.54Selected Comments: “Have finished the course feeling like I’ve really built on my knowledge from first year cell biology”; “I’m looking forward to taking cell biology 2 next semester. Thank you for doing such a great job”; “Feedback was very good”.
Ashley Garrill
Vanessa Morris and Renwick Dobson
Dr Christoph Goebl (University of Otago, Christchurch)
Reijel Gardiner
Alberts B et al; Molecular Biology of the Cell ; 6th; Garland Science, 2015.
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Domestic fee $910.00
International fee $4,438.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.
For further information see School of Biological Sciences .