Required Book: Medical Biochemistry John Baynes and Marek H. Dominiczak. Mosby, 1999.
Recommended Book: Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox. Worth. Third Edition.
Instructors:
1.- Class Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 to 4 AM. Location: First Floor of SR2.
During classes, the instructors will present an overview of the subjects to study, the significance of this material, and its relationship with material that is not in the textbook. The instructor will emphasize material that past experience has shown is more difficult for students to understand. Students can ask questions and interact with the professor during lectures. Students should refer to the book for a more comprehensive description of the assigned subjects. Part of the class time will be dedicated to answer questions from students.
2.- Web-page: Instructors will generate a bank of questions to help the students in their study. These questions will be available to the students in a web-page. Students should not limit their study to answer these questions, and exams may include questions that were not presented before.
3.- List-server: Students will be provided with an email address corresponding to a list-server that includes all the students and instructors of this course. Students may send to this list-server course related questions and comments, and these will be received by all the students and instructors. Any student can ask or answer questions in this forum. Questions that are sent to each instructor will be answered in the list-server so that all students participate. Questions sent by students may also be answered during classes. Instructors will daily monitor the questions and answers exchanged in the bulletin board and participate in this "on-line" discussion. Through the list-server, students may discuss the solutions of the problems presented in the web-page.
4.- Examinations: There will be three one-hour exams, and a final exam as indicated in the schedule below. The final exam will be scheduled by the Dean's office, later in the semester. The first three exams will have 40 questions each and cover topics discussed from the last exam. For exams 2 and 3, 10 questions will correspond to material already covered for exams 1 and 2, respectively. The final exam will have 50 questions: 30 questions corresponding to topics covered after the third exam, and 20 questions of topics corresponding to exams 1 to 3. For exams, multiple-choice questions will be prepared from: 1) classes and chapters in the book; 2) questions generated by the instructors (provided in the web-page); 3) questions and problems that are in the Appendix at the end of the book; and 4) questions and problems discussed in the list-server and during classes.
Grades: Exams 1-3: 20% each. Final exam: 30%. Written reports: 10%.
Make-up exams: There will be no make-up exams. Students must plan to attend the exams at the scheduled times. If health related problems are the cause of a student missing an exam, the student should present a letter to the Chairman of the PPS Department accompanied by a physician certificate to request a make-up exam, as soon as possible. This exam will be specially prepared for the student and include multiple-choice and assay questions.
Written Reports: Groups of six students will be organized at the beginning of the course. Each group should prepare reports following the "Guide and Rules", as described below.
Topics for reports are:
Students should bring the reports to the class corresponding to the due date, which will be provided by the instructors.
Guide and Rules to Prepare the Reports:
1.- Each report should be 3-4 typewritten (1.5 spaces) pages in length.
2.- Each report is estimated to take about 4 hours of each student's time.
3.- Include the title of the project on the Title Page of your report.
4.- Include the names of all the students in the group, and clearly indicate the group identification number on the Title Page. All the student s of the group must sign the report, and this is a recognition that all the students have participated in the elaboration of the report.
5.- Each report must be a collaborative effort: Each student in a group must research at least one reference. Students should take turns in composing the initial write-up. Refining a report must be a collaborative effort involving all 5-6 students of the group.
6.- The text must be referenced adequately with page numbers where information cited exists. Examples:
a. In the text:
For single author: (Johnson, 2002, page 23)
For two authors: (Smith & Johnson, 2002, page 1234)
For more than two authors: (Borasio et al., 1997; page 99).
b. In the reference section :
For an article:
Borasio P.O., Pavan B .1 Fabbri E., Ginannicorradini F ., Arcelli D. and Poll A. Adenosine analogs inhibit acetylcholine release and cyclic AMP synthesis in the guinea-pig superior cervical ganglion. Neuroscience Letters 184 (1995) 97-100.
For a book::
Bimbaumer, L. Regulatory events at the level of membrane-bound adenylate cyclase. In Cramer, H. and Schultz, J. (eds.) Cyclic nucleotides:
Mechanism of Action. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1977, pp 13-36.
7. Articles from internet, newspapers, tabloids, magazines (Reader's Digest, Time etc) are not acceptable references. However, they can be included to demonstrate conflicting or controversial points of view.
8. References should be newer than 1988.
9. "Quotes" are not acceptable; use your own phrases.
10. Do not plagiarize.
11. Typos, bad grammar and incorrect sentence structure will decrease your grade.
12. Late reports will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Grading Guide for the reports
:Upon receipt of the reports, instructors will distribute the reports to the student groups for grading.
|
Criterion |
Possible Point Deduction |
Justification |
|
Spelling |
1 |
2 or more misspelled / incorrect words |
|
Grammar |
2 |
1 point for repeated errors. 1-2 points for incorrect sentence structure, incorrect verb tense, etc. |
|
Following rules |
1 |
2 or more mistakes |
|
Factual Statements |
2 |
Incorrect scientific statement |
|
Report Organization |
1 |
|
|
Content |
3 |
Failing to mention important topic(s), grossly deviating from specific topic |
|
Plagiarism |
10 |
Lifting sentences directly from source |
Schedule of classes for Life Science I (2003)
Aug 25 Introduction (Carlos/30 min) Ch. 2 (T)
27(T) Ch. 5 Ch. 5
Sept. 3(T) Ch. 5 Ch. 11
8(T) Ch. 11 Ch. 13
10(T) Ch. 8 Ch. 12
15(T) Ch. 12/20 Ch. 20
17(T) Ch. 24 REVIEW (30 min)
22 FIRST TEST -------------------------------------------------------------
24 TEST RESULTS (Tahir/30 min). Ch. 7 (C)
29(C) Ch. 7 Ch. 7
Oct. 1(C) Ch. 7 Ch. 14
6(C) Ch. 15 Ch. 16
8(C) Ch. 17 Ch. 25
13(C) Ch. 28 REVIEW (30 min)
15 SECOND TEST---------------------------------------------------------
20(C) TEST RESULTS (30 min) Ch. 29
22(C) Ch. 29/30 Ch. 30
27(C) Ch. 31 Ch. 31
29(C) Ch. 31 Ch. 32
Nov. 3(C) Ch. 32 Ch. 36
5 (C) Ch. 36/ REVIEW (30 min) Ch. 3 (T)
10 THIRD TEST------------------------------------------------------------
17 TEST RESULTS (Carlos/30 min) Ch. 4 (T)
19(T) Ch. 4 Ch. 6
24(T) Ch. 6 Ch. 9
Dec. 1(T) Ch. 10 Ch. 27
3(T) Ch. 39 Final review
Nov. 12 is off for ASN meeting