Current Courses

Offered in the Fall
BIO150: Cells, Physiology, and Development
BIO323 Seminar: Topics in Developmental Biology -Stem cells and their amazing “potential”

Offered in the Spring
BIO302: Developmental Biology
BIO303: Developmental Biology Laboratory

Past Courses Taught
BIO206: Cell Physiology
BIO207: Cell Physiology Laboratory

Course Descriptions

BIO150: Cells, Physiology, and Development
Students in this course will investigate the structure, function and physiology of cells, the properties of biological molecules, information transfer from the level of DNA to cell-cell communication, and cellular energy generation and transfer. The development of multicellular organisms and the physiology of selected organ systems will also be explored.  Much of the material presented in my version of this course will be in the form of medical case studies.  In class these case studies will serve as reminders of the “bigger picture” meaning to the seemingly finite details we study.  My BIO150 course also has an additional hour scheduled each week to hold a workshop focused on one case study, to which students need to work together to determine the cellular cause of the disorder.  This workshop is specifically designed to begin building the critical thinking skills all scientists need.

BIO302: Developmental Biology
The field of Developmental Biology tries to address the age-old question of how a single cell can give rise to the complexity and diversity of cells and forms that make us the way we are. Developmental Biology spans all disciplines from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution. Therefore, this course should appeal to a wide range of student interests, and serve as a chance to unify many of the principles discussed in other courses. Observations of the remarkable phenomena that occur during embryonic development will be presented in concert with the experiments underlying our current knowledge. In addition to textbook reading assignments, students will learn to read and present primary literature, design visual representations of developmental processes, and compose an abbreviated grant proposal. In order to fully engage students with the research being presented in class, prominent developmental biologists will web conference with our class.

BIO303: Developmental Biology Laboratory
Students will design and carry out their own experiments focused on neural and muscle development using zebrafish as a model system. Techniques covered will be embryology, indirect immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, microinjection of RNA for gain or loss of function studies, pharmacological analysis, GFP-transgenics, an array of microscopy techniques. This laboratory is designed as a true research experience and thus will require time outside of the normally scheduled lab period. Your data will be constructed into a poster that will be presented at Smith and may be presented at an undergraduate Developmental Biology conference with participating local Colleges and Universities.

BIO323 Seminar: Topics in Developmental Biology-Stem cells and their amazing “potential”
Whether at dinner tables, the halls of congress and church, or a patient's bedside, the promise of stem cells is highly debated. This course will explore all aspects of Stem Cells from a detailed Cellular, Genetic and Molecular description to discussions of the ethical concerns. We will investigate the differences between embryonic versus adult stem cells and their related potential to the development of different cell types and their role in development, disease, trauma, and cancer. Course material will mainly be derived from primary research literature, and the main assessment is based on the composition of a grant proposal, which will be reviewed in a mock NIH-style study section.