Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 3 hours / session
Course Overview
9.013J / 7.68J is an introductory course for graduate students aimed at providing a synthetic overview of major principles and techniques associated with cellular and molecular neurobiology. Subject matter is intended to range from the detailed mechanics underlying neuronal signaling and cellular function to how these properties are invoked across development and during plasticity.
The course involves a series of overview lectures by a leading researcher in the field, complemented by recitation opportunities on primary research papers for students. By offering a thorough introduction to the current status of the discipline while emphasizing critical thinking, 9.013J / 7.68J aims to prepare students for an exciting and rapid beginning to their contributions as neuroscientists and biologists.
Format
The first 1.5 hours will be lecture, followed by a reasonable break, while during the final 45 minutes or so a student will foster an interactive discussion on a related research paper. The requirement for this course consists of coming to class having done all of the reading assigned for that day’s topic, being prepared to participate in the discussion and giving at least one presentation of an assigned paper along with an adequate introduction.
We hope you will enjoy the class and look forward to coming!
Textbook
This year we will be using the textbook:
Levitan, Irwin B., and Leonard K. Kaczmarek. The Neuron: Cell & Molecular Biology. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780195145236.
Grading
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
| Two exams (30% each) | 60% |
| Presentation | 20% |
| Attendance and class participation | 20% |
Calendar
MCP = Prof. Martha Constantine-Paton
MS = Prof. Morgan Sheng
Chip Q = Prof. William Quinn
| LEC # | TOPICS | INSTRUCTORS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion channels I | MS |
| 2 | Ion channels II | MS |
| 3 | Receptors I | MS |
| 4 | Receptors II | MS |
| 5 | Introduction; basics of electrophysiology | MCP |
| 6 | Modulation of receptor activity | MCP |
| 7 | Protein targeting, signaling complexes | MS |
| 8 | Neuronal polarity / subcellular specialization | MS |
| 9 | Repertoire of neuron interactions | MCP |
| 10 | Neurogenesis | Li-Huei Tsai |
| 11 | Presynaptic mechanisms | MS |
| Mid-term exam | ||
| 12 | Molecular manipulation of neural circuits | Susan Su (Introduction) |
| 13 | Axon guidance | Davie van Vactor (Harvard) |
| 14 | Synapse formation/elimination | MCP |
| 15 | Trophic factors | MCP |
| 16 | Postsynaptic mechanisms; LTP/LTD | MS |
| 17 | Waves and chemoaffinity | MCP |
| 18 | Two faces of GABA | MCP |
| 19 | Hodgkin and Huxley (lecture 1) | Chip Q |
| 20 | Hodgkin and Huxley (lecture 2) | Chip Q |
| 21 | Aplysia learning | Chip Q |
| 22 | Drosophila learning | Chip Q |
| 23 | Drosophila circadian rhythms | Chip Q |
| 24 | Epilepsy | MCP |
| Final exam |
