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Biol 281T - Current Topics in Biology

Biol 281T - Syllabus

Spring 2000

 

Coordinator for Spring 2000 - Alice Wright

This course is a graduate-level seminar course focusing on student presentations and high-level discussions.

Instructors Office Phone Office Hours
Dr. Alejandro Calderon-Urrea  Sci 202B 278-4080 MWF 1-2
Dr. Jim Prince Sci 314B 278-2559 MW 12-2
Dr. Brian Tsukimura Sci 318A 278-4244 TBA
Dr. Alice Wright Sci. 10B 278-7692 WF 10-12
Dr. Rick Zechman Sci 332A 278-4095 MW 1-4

Grades: Discussion participation and your presentation will each count for one half of your grade. However, if you miss more than two class meetings, your grade will be reduced by at least one letter grade.

The goal of this course is increase awareness of recent advances in biology. Thus, each student will give at least one presentation (depending on the number of enrollees) on a "cutting edge"* topic in biology. Each presentation will include a paper that makes a new scientific contribution (published in 1998-1999) and one related paper (also preferably with a very recent publication date). In class, we will concentrate on the most recent paper, not the related one. Any area of biology is appropriate. You must contact one of the instructors for approval of your paper: Dr. Zechman for ecology, evolution, or systematics, Dr. Wright for microbiology, Dr. Calderon for developmental genetics, Dr. Tsukimura for physiology and zoology, and Dr. Prince for molecular genetics. If you are uncertain who to contact for a given topic, contact any of us!

The papers must be distributed the week prior to your presentation, in order to allow course participants enough time to critically read them. In addition, 4-5 "thought questions" must be handed out with your paper in order to stimulate critical thinking while people read your selections.

*What defines "cutting edge"?

  • The work simply makes a major contribution to a particular area of biology (or all areas!).
  • Research that suggests a paradigm shift.
  • Important advances in technology.
  • First experimentation to support a new or long-standing theory.

Some suggested journals for finding articles are:

  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
  • Science
  • Nature
  • Cell
  • Plant Cell
  • Evolution
  • General and Comparative Endocrinology
  • Journal of Bacteriology
  • Journal of Experimental Zoology But browse around!!!!!!!!!!

Please turn cell telephones and pagers off before the start of class. You are bound by the University Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism. In this class, be very sure to accurately cite information. If you have questions, check with me.

Note: If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and need course materials in alternative formats, notify your course instructor immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

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Biol 281T - Schedule

Spring 2000

DATE  NAME email Phone
1-26  Introduction
2-2 Alice Wright  awright@csufresno.edu  278-7692
2-9 Jim Prince   jamespr@csufresno.edu 278-2559
2-16 Natasha Sherman   nasl8@csufresno.edu 278-4044
2-23 Pam Scott  2784044
3-1 Biotechnology pro and con open discussion
3-8 Mark Schrieber   mes32@csufresno.edu 278-4044
3-15
3-22 Scientific Integrity open discussion
3-29 Wendy Holmes   wen_10@hotmail.com 278-2776/
229-9108
4-5 Alejandro Calderon-Urrea   calalea@csufresno.edu 278-4080
4-12 Cheri Schellack  278-4703
4-19 Spring Break
4-26 John Kea  jonkea@hotmail.com  255-4524/
970-1516
5-3 Scott Swift  sds16@csufresno.edu

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