Introduction and Objectives
TEXTBOOKS:
1) Principles of Neural Science, 4th edition. Kandel, Schwartz, Jessell, Appleton & Lange, 2000.
2)Molecular Cell Biology, 6th edition. Lodish, Berk, Matsudaira, Kaiser, Krieger, Scott, Zipursky, and Darnell. W. H. Freeman Company, 2004. (Purchasing Molecular Cell Biology is recommended but not required.)
Course Expectations:
Class Lectures: Students are expected to be prepared for
class by completing readings (text book chapters and journal articles)
and problem sets prior to the class for which they are assigned.
Discussion Sessions: All students are expected to read the
assigned journal article and participate actively in every discussion
session. Co-presenters will be evaluated based on their
preparation, presentation, and ability to lead the discussion session.
Faculty will evaluate all students in the discussion sessions for
their participation and will provide written comments and a grade
to the co-presenters.
In-Class Quizzes: Eight in-class quizzes will be given
during the course. These will be brief (10 min) short answer quizzes
given at the beginning of a discussion session and will cover the
material presented in class lectures as well as the material in
the assigned discussion paper. The quizzes will be closed book.
Take-Home Examinations: There will be two exams, a midterm
and a final. The midterm will cover material through Lecture 11
and Discussion 5. The final will cover material from Lecture 12
and Discussion 6 through Lecture 27 and Discussion 12. Each exam
will have approximately six questions which will require short essay
answers. Students will have several days to complete the exam and
return typed (word-processed) answers. The questions will require
problem-solving, design of experiments, and more thought and analysis
than could be expected in an in-class exam. The exams will be “open
book”. The use of any assigned materials (text books or literature
readings) is permitted in formulating answers, although this should
not be necessary to successfully answer the question.
Students are NOT permitted to discuss their answers or any part
of the exam with any other person during the examination period
nor are they permitted to share any reference citations or material.
Problem sets will occasionally be assigned and will be reviewed
in class meetings.
All class meetings are required. Absences are considered in grading.
Determination of Grades:
- Class participation 25
%
Discussion session
presentations (20%)
Participation in lectures
and discussion sessions (5%)
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- Take-home examinations 45
%
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- Independent exploration project 10
%
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Credits:
4 credits (A/F only) 
Prerequisites:
neuroscience graduate student or instructor permission
Time:
MWF, 8:30am-10:00am
Place:
lectures: 2-580 Moos Tower