203 Course Mechanics
 
MMG-203
MAMMLIAN CELL CULTURE IN
BIOMEDIAL RESEARCH

SECOND SEMESTER - 2003
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE DIRECTOR:                Warren Schaeffer, Rm. B009D, Stafford Hall, Ext. 62290, wschaeff@zoo.uvm.edu
CO-DIRECTOR:                         Stephanie Phelps, Rm. B009C, Stafford Hall, Ext. 68255, sphelps@zoo.uvm.edu

CLASS TIME:                             LECTURE - 9:30-10:45, T,Th;  ROOM 101 (AUDITORIUM)
                                                   LABORATORY - 2:00 - 4:45pm, T, Th (FORMAL TIMES), STAFFORD 104

TEACHING ASSISTANTS:           Kirk Brown, Rm. 316, Stafford Hall, Ext. 68809, kmbrown@zoo.uvm.edu
                                                    Krishnan Venkataraman, Rm. 316 Stafford Hall, Ext. 68809, kvenkata@zoo.uvm.edu
                                                    Daniel Zurawski, Rm. 118 Stafford Hall, Ext. 65784, dzurawsk@zoo.uvm.edu

TEXTBOOK:                                "Culture of Animal Cells" , Ian Freshney, Fourth Edition, Wiley-Liss Publishers

GRADING SYSTEM:
-Quizzes - weekly on Thursdays..................................20%
-Subjective - Professionalism* ....................................10%
-Lab presentation of exp't'1. results ...........................20%
-Notebooks - checked 4 x.............................................10%
-Final Presentation -....................................................20%
-Final Exam ................................................................20%

*Professionalism = comportment within the laboratory setting, interpersonal relations within the mini-lab group, suitability of data presentations, punctuality for lectures/labs, appearance of the mini-lab, participation in and responsibility for, carrying out the division-of-labor duties within the mini-lab, respect for ALL laboratory equipment, supplies, individuals, etc.
                 GRADE ASSIGNMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
97-100 = A+
 87-89 = B+
 77-79 = C+
 67-69 = D+
 59 or less = F
93-96 = A
 83-86 = B
 73-76 = C
 63-66 = D
90-92 = A-
 80-82 = B-
 70-72 = C-
 60-62 = D-
Grades in this course are NOT scaled.  A numerical average ending in 0.5 or above, will be increased to the next whole number.


SPECIAL PRESENTATION TOPICS
1. The use of cell cultures in vaccine production
2. The use of cell cultures in gene therapy
3. The use of cell cultures in making artificial organs*
4. The use of cell cultures in tissue engineering*
5. The use of cell cultures in cancer research
6. The use of cell cultures in virus research
7. The use of cell cultures in developmental biology
8. The use of cell cultures in studying embryonic stem cell usage
9. The use of cell cultures as alternatives to animals in toxicological research
10. The use of cell cultures in.............. (your choice)

**These two are not the same. Tissue engineering involves such things as growing various body parts from tissues in culture. Artificial organs involves the use of cell cultures in creating artificial organs such as artificial livers, kidneys, etc., not in the form of the organ itself (as from stem cells) but using cells from such organs in various containers to create the artificial organ.
WHAT IS EXPECTED/HOW WILL YOUR PRESENTATIONS BE EVALUATED?
A. This presentation will constitute an important part of the course.
B. As such, we expect this to be a truly formal assignment. It will be formatted essentially as you will be doing in the "lab discussions".
C. In the presentations, you have the choice of working with your entire group, or you can divide and work in groups of two and three. If you do divide up, it would be interesting if you could get together and present related material.
D. In the case of a two-person presentation, it should be geared for one half hour but no more than 45 minutes. For a larger than two-person presentation, it should be geared for no more than one hour.
E. Your overheads, slides, Powerpoint presentation must be done formally. That is, no handwritten text. Everyone has access to a computer as the department has a computer facility in the basement adjacent to B-009. If you need materials (i.e. floppies, overheads, etc.) see us.
F. You should come into the office (B-009) for any guidance you may need. This is strongly suggested!