|
Contact
Information
I
can be reached at x2557 or by email at dfraga@acs.wooster.edu.
I respond much quicker to email than to phone messages.
I
have office hours by appointment only. I keep an appointment
sheet posted outside my office door. You can sign
up for any open slot.
Below
is set of quick links to information you may be looking
for with regard to this class.
About
the course
Introduction
to Cell Physiology Cellular
biology deals with biology at its must fundamental level
because a cell is the smallest unit of life universally
considered to be 'alive'. Cells perform all the functions
we normally ascribe to their larger cousins, the multicellular
organisms. They 'eat', 'digest', 'excrete', communicate,
reproduce, adapt to their environment, move, change
shape, and 'commit suicide'. I doubt if they are capable
of spiritual enlightenment but we continue to be surprised
at the sophistication of a single cell.
Cellular
biology cuts across several more tightly defined disciplines
including cytology, biochemistry, and genetics. A cell
biologist utilizes techniques from a number of disciplines
such as molecular genetics, classical genetics, biochemistry,
development, and physiology. However, one feature common
to many cell biologists is an interest with complete
processes in a single cell and where they occur. Thus
they are more likely to work with intact and/or living
cells because spatial relationships and internal cellular
dynamics are important in their work.
This
course will introduce you to cell biology by focusing
on the common features of all eukaryotic cells. I will
stress animal cells because of their intrinsic interest
to us and because there is a considerable amount known
about them. Where appropriate and interesting, we will
discuss how prokaryotic, single-celled eukaryotic, plant,
and certain specialized cells differ. The course is
designed to give you a broad view of how cells are put
together, how the various parts coordinate their activities,
and how cells interact with their environment (including
other cells).
The
lab class is designed to acquaint you with some of the
methodologies of cell biology and to demonstrate the
advantages of using model systems to answer basic questions
in biology. We will perform experiments in pairs or
as larger groups. In general you will design, prepare
your own reagents, and execute your own experiments.
There will be considerable coaching and directing in
the beginning but things will loosen up as the course
progresses to give you the opportunity to be creative.
This should provide you with valuable experience in
using the scientific method and perhaps take some of
the mystery out of how research is done. Ultimately
I hope it may help you in designing an IS project.
|
