Department: Natural Sciences

Course Code & Name: Bio345, Cell and Molecular Biology

Class Time and Location TR @ 8:00-9:15 a.m. Science Building 0406
INSTRUCTOR name Dr. Mohamad RIMA
Course Coordinator Dr. Mohamad RIMA
Course Co-coordinator -
Credits Hours 3
Semester Fall 2023

INSTRUCTOR
Email: Mohamad.rima@lau.edu.lb
Office: Building A, office 814
Office Hours: TR 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

CURRENT CATALOG DESCRIPTION

This course is integration of the approaches of cytology, biochemistry, genetics, and
physiology, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the operation of cells as units of
structure and function in living organisms.

PRE- OR CO-REQUISITE
BIO202 Biology II, BIO321 Genetics, and CHM312 Organic Chemistry II, or the consent of
the Instructor.
Co-requisite: BCH301 Biochemistry
COURSE TYPE
☒ Required Major’s Elective General Elective
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the completion of this course, the student will able to:
• Establish an understanding of macromolecular systems and their roles in cellular
processes (CLO1)
• Examine fully the composition and the central role of membranes controlling biochemical
processes, traffic and communication (CLO2)
• Examine biogenesis starting with translation and protein synthesis and modification to
intracellular trafficking (CLO3)
• Discuss signaling pathways and analyze the relationship between extracellular signals and
regulation of gene expression (CLO4)
• Discuss cellular proliferation and apoptosis and establish the relationship with cancer
(CLO5)
• Analyze and solve problems dealing recent techniques in cell biology (CL06)

TEXTBOOK

Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts and Walter. Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th
ED) Garland Science. (Available online for free via in the LAU Library)
TOPICS COVERED IN THE COURSE

Week Lecture / activity Textbook

Chap.
1 Syllabus reading and Introduction

Chapter 1: Research Methods

- Types of research methods 8–9
- Introduction to the Study of the Cell and Molecular Biology
2 - Manipulating Proteins, DNA, and RNA
- Visualizing Cells
- Experimental Perspectives: Problem solving and experiment and ProjectPlanning
Chapter 2: Membrane Structure & Function
- Brief History of studies on Cell membrane
- The chemical composition of Cell membranes 10 – 11
- The structure and functions of membrane proteins
3 - Membrane lipids and Fluidity
- The dynamic nature of plasma membrane
- The movement across cell membranes
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.
Chapter 3: Chromosome Structure and Organization
- The Structure and Function of DNA 4
- Chromosomal DNA and Its Packaging in the Chromatin Fiber
4 - The Global Structure of Chromosomes
- Karyotype
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.
Chapter 4: The Nucleus & Gene expression (Flip the classroom)
- The Nucleus: Nuclear Envelope and Content
- Control of gene expression in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
- Transcriptional-Level Control 6–7
5–6
- Translational-Level Control
- Post-translational Control
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.
Chapter 5: Biogenesis, Traffic and cellular membrane systems 13
- The Compartmentalization of Cells
- The Transport of Molecules between the Nucleus and the Cytosol
6–7 - The Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Transport and the Maintenance of
Compartmental Diversity
- Endocytosis - Exocytosis
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.

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 Chapter 6 : Receptors, Second messengers and signaling pathways 15
- General Principles of Cell Communication
- Signaling through G-Protein-Linked Cell-Surface Receptors
8–9
- Signaling through Enzyme-Linked Cell-Surface Receptors
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientificquestions.

Chapter 7 : Adhesion and Extracellular matrix 19

- Animal cells assembly into tissues
- Cadherins and Selectins
10 – 11 - Types of Cell-Surface molecules in Cell-Cell Adhesion
- The Extracellular Matrix: Basal Lamina and the connective Tissue
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientificquestions.
Chapter 8 : Actin, Microtubules, and Cell Motility 16
- Actin-based Motor Proteins
- Types of Microtubule Motor Proteins: Kinesins and Dyneins
12 - Skeletal and Cardiac muscular contraction
- Cilia and Flagella
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.
Chapter 9 : Cell Cycle, Apoptosis, and Cancer 17 – 18 – 23
- Control of the Cell Cycle in Vivo
- Mitosis and Cytokinesis
- Somatic events in signal transduction
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- Pathways of Apoptosis
- Cancers: Properties, Causes, and Treatment
- Experimental Perspectives: Planning experiments to solve scientific
questions.

14 Final Oral Presentations

TEACHING/LEARNING METHOD

Lectures and some interactive learning; such as discussing recent publications related to the topic and
solving exercises on relevant clinical cases. In addition, students will have to do oral presentations and
to solve case studies at the end of their work.

REFERENCES

• Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments (7th Edition) by Gerald Karp,
Wiley International Edition, 2013.
• Molecular Cell Biology (8th Edition) by Lodish, Harvey F. et al. New York: W.H. Freemanand
Co, 2016

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 COURSE GRADING AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

There will be three exams in this course. The distribution of percentage on each exam is as

Such:

Allocated % Chapters Due Date*

Exam I 25 % 1–4 Monday, October 9, 2023
6:30 PM
Exam II 25 % 5–6 Monday, November 13, 2023
6:30 PM
Final Exam 40% 7–9 Final Exams Period
Project/Assignments 10% Assignments during
semester
* Exam dates are tentative, pending room reservation
• NO INCOMPLETE GRADE
• NO MAKE-UP EXAMS except for valid excuse(s) such as documented medical illness
necessitating hospitalization, death in immediate family, LAU sport events or other vital
emergencies. The student should submit his/her excuse in this regard within 48 hours of the
scheduled exam to the course instructor and the Dean of students by two emails as per the new
Absence from Exams policy.

GRADING SYSTEM

Grade Quality Points Guidelines over 100

A 4 > 90
A- 3.67 87 – 89
B+ 3.33 83 – 86
B 3.0 80 – 82
B- 2.67 77 – 79
C+ 2.33 73 – 76
C 2 70 – 72
C- 1.67 67 – 69
D+ 1.33 63 – 66
D 1 60 – 62
F 0 < 59
P No quality Points
NP No quality Points
U No quality Points
W No quality Points
I No quality Points
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 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT - ACADEMIC VIOLATIONS
The following table defines the sanction(s) associated with each violation. In some cases, and when the
violation is too general, a range of sanctions is set for the pertinent committee to choose from depending
on the specifics of each case. As for the second offense, the set sanctions apply regardless whether the
violation has taken place in the same course or a different one, within the same semester or not.

Code # Violation First Offense Second

Offense
Cheating
2.2.1 Using material or equipment (including mobile phones, electronic zero on the F on the course
tablets, i-pads, calculators, and other devices) that is not authorized deliverable with a with a warning
by the instructor in an examination, project, or graded assignment warning

2.2.2 Cheating, copying, collaborating with or aiding another Student in a zero on the Suspension
manner not permitted by the instructor on an examination, project, deliverable witha
or other graded assignment warning
2.2.3 Distributing or aiding in the distribution of previous exams without double warning suspension –
authorization of the instructor – suspension expulsion
2.2.4 Stealing, reproducing, or circulating an examination or Suspension Expulsion
other graded assignment before it has been administered
2.2.5 Impersonating another Student or allowing another Student to suspensionfor Expulsion
impersonate one’s self during an examination, presentation, or other both
graded assignment

Code # Violation First Offense Second

Offense
2.2.6 Impersonating an assistant, staff member, or faculty member for the suspension – Expulsion
purpose of (a) proctoring examinations without authorization or expulsion
permission or (b) obtaining confidential information regarding
coursework or examinations
2.2.7 Receiving, purchasing or selling a project, paper, or anyacademic suspension – Expulsion
document and presenting it as work other than expulsion
that of the author
2.2.8 Submitting identical papers or coursework for credit inmore than zero on the F on the course
one class without the permission of the instructor deliverable witha with a warning
warning
Plagiarism and Copyright Violations
2.2.9 Failing to attribute language or ideas to their original source by not zero on the F on the course
crediting the original author with an appropriate acknowledgement or deliverable witha with a warning
citation warning
2.2.10 Using photocopied or electronic copies of textbooks,compact Warning double warning
disks, films, music, online course materials, and
other content beyond the fair use policy within UniversityPremises

2.2.11 Using copyrighted materials, including in written research reports and Warning double warning
papers, without obtaining required permission,if any, from the rights
holder
Unauthorized Sale, Distribution, or Use of Course Materials
2.2.12 Recording any lecture or presentation for personal use or public warning double warning
distribution without the prior consent of the course instructor. This
applies to the unauthorized use of any medium including but not
limited to mobile phones, electronic tablets, i-pads recorders, films, and
other devices

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2.2.13 Selling academic materials by any Student, club, or group. This warning double warning
includes but is not limited to lectures, course recordings, class notes,
and previous exams

UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY

1. Students are expected to attend all classes.
2. For valid reasons, students may miss classes for a maximum that is equivalent to two regular weeks.
3. When exceeding the maximum number of absences, it is the instructor’s prerogative to ask the
concerned student to stop attending and drop the course. In this case, it is the student’s
responsibility to drop the course, otherwise a grade of “F” or “NP” will be given.
4. In exceptional justified cases (long illness, etc…), where absences exceed the maximum, the
student has to petition to the department Chair to be allowed to stay in the course.
5. Students are held responsible for all the material presented in the classroom, even during their
absence.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
WI is equivalent to Early Withdrawal
WP is equivalent to Withdrawal/Pass
WF is equivalent to Withdrawal/Fail
1. A student who withdraws after the Drop/Add period and by October 5, 2023 will obtain a “WI”
on that particular course.
The student may process such request directly through the Registrar’s Office.
2. A student who withdraws from a course October 6 and November 9, 2023 will receive either a “WP”
or a “WF”. “WP” or “WF” will be determined based on the achieved academic performance in that
course till the time of withdrawal.
3. The “WI” and the “WP” will not count as a Repeat; whereas the “WF” will count as a Repeat.
4. “WI”, “WP” and “WF” will not count towards the GPA calculation.

COURSE ONLINE EVALUATIONS

Completion of the online course evaluations is important for feedback and improvement. Students are
highly encouraged to complete the course evaluations at the end of the semester.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Actively engaging in the class discussions and activities
• Maintaining an organized and updated notebook with clearly labeled sections
• Completing all assignments and course deliverables promptly
• Demonstrating mastery of Cell and Molecular Biology during the assessments or quizzes if any.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURSE OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM OUTCOMES

To be completed by Assessment Committee.

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