BSCI 426 - Fall, 2008

      Biophysics of Membranes

 

Rm.  PLS 1180  Tu.Th. 4 to 5:15 PM

Marco Colombini Tel: 405-6925 (colombini@umd.edu) (don't be a stranger)
                                                                office: Bio/Psyc rm. 3276
Requirement: access to WWW

Textbook: Cell Physiology Source Book by Nicholas Sperelakis 3rd Edition (designated by "T" below)
(I'm going to make this optional.  The book is useful but we will only use a portion of it for the course.  You should decide, based on your goals, what you would like to do.)

Optional sources of Information...(all required information will be covered in class)

1.  Molecular Biochemistry on-line course

2. Lectures on line


3. Molecular and Cell Biophysics by R. Nossal and H. Lecar (Addison-Wesley)

4. An Introduction to Membrane Transport and Bioelectricity by J. Byrne and S. Schultz (Raven)

5. The Vital Force: A study of Bioenergetics by F.M. Harold (Freeman)

6. Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes by Bertil Hille (Sinauer)

7. Biological Physics by Philip Nelson

8. Principles of Biochemistry by Leninger

9. Biophysical Society home page: resources


For those with a more quantitative background:

10.  Introduction to Molecular Biophysics by Tuszynski and Kurzynski (CRC Press)

Course Objective: My major goal in this course is to help you become comfortable with quantitative aspects of biology and with the biophysical approach. By using mathematical descriptions of biological phenomena one can gain real insight into these biological systems and biological processes. The strategies that cells use can be appreciated for their beauty and, once understood, can be modified in rational ways. I sincerely hope that all of you gain this kind of appreciation.

A second, important objective is to develop a sophistication, a higher-level of thinking, about membranes and membrane phenomena. I want you to go way beyond the oversimplified picture given in lower-level courses. Membranes are essential to life in many ways: form compartments that contain the critical mix of materials to sustain life processes; form barriers to toxins or invaders; transduce the energy needed for life; harvest light for energy or vision; allow fast, long-distance communication; and probably allow us to think. More importantly, they are interesting dynamic objects rich in fascinating phenomena.
 

CAPSTONE COURSE: You may have chosen this course as part of your CORE Liberal Arts Sciences Studies Program. A CORE Capstone Course, taken in your major and after 86 credits, satisfies one of the two Advanced Studies requirements. It is designed to integrate material learned previously in your major. A faculty and student committee approved this CORE Advanced Studies Capstone course because it calls on you to examine the inter-relationships that bind your discipline together and transfers to you the main responsibility for taking an active role in learning. Please take advantage of the opportunity this course offers to you.
 

OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
 
 

Assignments:

There will be frequent homework assignments. These will be graded and counted toward your final grade in the course. A few ground rules:

a) Completed homework assignments are due 1 week after class distribution.

b) Students may work together on assignments but each must return his/her own work.

c) Assignments must be neat, organized, and easily legible or they won't be accepted.

d) Assignments containing errors should be corrected and resubmitted along with the original submission to ensure that the lesson has been learned and to improve the grade.

 

Link to the Assignments


Grading

A letter grade for the course will be assigned based on class participation and on performance in three areas:

30% homework assignments; 20% midterm exam; 50% final exam

Mid Term: October 21

Final Exam: to be announced

Policy on academic dishonesty: Please read the policy in the Schedule of Classes.

The Student Honor Council has requested that the following be added to all syllabi:




The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized 




 
Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council.  




 
This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all 




 
undergraduate and graduate students.  As a student you are responsible 




 
for upholding these standards for this course.  It is very important for 




 
you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, 




 
facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of 




 
Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit 




 
http://www.shc.umd.edu.




 
To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to 




 
sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on 




 
my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance 




 
on this examination (assignment)."




 
(Please note that this pledge is only necessary for the mid-term and final exams.)

Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for making up missed work and returning assignments on time.

Note: The deadlines for assignments or the term paper will be changed for individuals only in the following cases:
a) University activities at the request of University authorities
b) illness backed up by a verifiable written excuse from a physician indicating the nature of the illness

P.S. You might be interested in getting a feel for my research at: http://www.life.umd.edu/vdac/

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Philolaus of Tarentum was a leading Greek scientist who lived around 500 BC.  He taught that the Earth and the planets revolved around a central fire. He said: "Without numbers, we understand nothing and know nothing."

The biophysical approach is a process for converting Biology from a descriptive hobby to a quantitative science.

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 syllabus07