Cell and Molecular Neurobiology
Instructor Peter D. Brodfuehrer
Office Room 210
Phone 526-5095
e-mail pbrodfue@brynmawr.edu
Class Schedule Lecture/Lab: Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 PM -4 PM
Biology Room 128
Textbook The Neuron: Cell and Molecular Biology (second edition) by Irwin B. Levitan and Leonard K. Kaczmarek.
- Additional reading will be put on reserve in Collier library
Computer program NeuroSim by BioSoft and Crawdad by R. Wyttenbach, B. Johnson, and R. Hoy
Grades
Homework assignments (3) = 24%
Laboratory discussions and reports (3) = 24%
Independent laboratory project and report = 20%
Paper / Presentation = 22%
Class Participation = 10%
Paper Assignment - Ion channels are crucial components of living cells. Recent advances have highlighted their molecular structure, permeability and selectivity, their gating and modulation, their responses to drugs and toxins and the human diseases caused when they do not function properly. In this assignment, you will be required to write a paper (approximately 10 pages, double spaced, excluding references) describing the structure - function relationship of an ion channel or class of channels, and its role in nervous system functioning or malfunctioning (disease).
Use primary and secondary literature sources (journal articles, textbooks, the web etc.) to research your topic, and list all relevant references at the end of your paper. Make sure that all details described in your paper are sufficiently supported by experimental observations. The paper will count for 22% of your grade. One reason for requiring a paper is that you will seldom take tests after Bryn Mawr, but you may frequently be required to critique, evaluate or discuss an idea or topic in a written report. This will be excellent practice. It is also important to be able to learn material independently.
To help develop the scope and direction of your paper, I will require that you turn in a brief (1 page maximum) outline or abstract of the paper by October 11. I will return them during the next class with comments and suggestions. You can turn in one working draft by December 5 for my feedback. Your paper is due on the last day of exams.
BMC Library OnLine Resources
BMC Library - Full Text Resources
Syllabus and Important Dates
|
Date |
Topics |
Readings, Web Materials and Assignments |
|
9/5 |
Course description NeuroSim demonstration Introduction to data acquisition with SuperScope |
Neuron: Chapter 1 |
|
9/6 |
Resting membrane potential Passive membrane properties - crayfish anatomy and dissection - extracellular recording techniques |
Neuron: Chapter 3 NeuroSim Cable NeuroSim Neuron - passive |
|
9/12 |
Experiment 1: Crayfish Motor Nerve Recording |
|
|
9/13 |
Experiment 1: Crayfish Motor Nerve Recording - properties of action potentials |
|
|
9/19 |
Discussion of Experiment 1 Observations Passive membrane properties Equilibrium potentials Properties of Action potenitals |
Neuron: Chapter 3 Bioelectricity |
|
9/20 |
Simulation of Hodgkin and Huxley experiments |
Neuron: Chapters 4 and 5 NeuroSim HH |
|
9/26 |
Experiment 2: Ionic Basis of Action Potentials Snail Anatomy Intracellular Recording Techniques |
Observations from experiment 1 due |
|
9/27 |
Experiment 2: Ionic Basis of Action Potentials |
|
|
10/3 |
Experiment 2: Ionic Basis of Action Potentials |
Homework assignment #1 due |
|
10/4 |
Discussion of Experiment 2 Observations Ion Channels |
Neuron: Chapters 4 and 6 NeuroSim Patch |
|
10/10 |
Web and Library Research |
|
|
10/11 |
Web and Library Research |
Paper outline and references due |
|
Fall Break |
Fall Break |
Fall Break |
|
10/24 |
Ion Channels |
Observations from experiment 2 due Neuron: Chapter 6 NeuroSim Patch |
|
10/25 |
Channel Diversity and Bursting Neurons |
Neuron: Chapters 6 and 12 NeuroSim Neuron |
|
10/31 |
Synaptic Transmission simulations |
Neuron: Chapters 7, 8 and 9 NeuroSim Network |
|
11/1 |
Modulation of Synaptic Transmission simulations |
Neuron: Chapter 10, 11 and 12 |
|
11/7 |
Experiment 3: Synaptic Connectivity / Plasticity |
|
|
11/8 |
Experiment 3: Synaptic Connectivity / Plasticity |
|
|
11/14 |
Experiment 3: Synaptic Connectivity / Plasticity |
Home work assignment #2 dueNeuroSim Network |
|
11/15 11/15 cont. |
Discussion of Experiment 3 Observations Neuronal Networks |
Neuron: Chapter 17 |
|
11/21 |
Neuronal Networks Demonstration of Neuronal Oscillator |
Observations from experiment 3 due |
|
11/22 |
Student Presentations |
|
|
11/28 |
Learning and Memory |
Neuron: Chapter 18 NeuroSim Network |
|
11/29 |
Student Presentations |
|
|
12/5 |
Independent Projects |
Homework assignment #3 due |
|
12/6 |
Independent Projects |
|
|
12/12 |
Independent Projects |
|
|
12/13 |
Discussion and presentation of Independent Projects |
Paper and Report on independent project due the last day of exams |
|
|
|
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