BMS 645 - Cell Biology and Tissue Development and Function

Course Overview

This course addresses the cellular biology of tissue development in the context of receptor signaling, cell-­‐cell interactions, and tissue function. Students are expected to have a strong basic understanding of basic cellular and molecular biology. This course will cover major receptor-­‐mediated signaling pathways in the first half. The second half of the course will address how these pathways integrate to control tissue development and function.

This class is offered in the Spring.

Topics Covered

  • Overview of course, assignments, reading and reviewing papers, critique writing
  • Using Excel to perform basic statistical analysis: T test, ANOVA, chi squared tests
  • Basic statistical methods 2 – Sample size and power analysis (demo of recommended internet tool)
  • Overview of receptor signaling and second messengers – nuclear hormone receptors
  • microRNA regulation and function
  • TGFbeta/BMP signaling
  • Receptor tyrosine kinase signaling
  • Wnt/hh pathways
  • Notch transmembrane receptors and their ligands
  • Signaling from the extracellular matrix
  • Overview of embryonic development
  • Overview of signaling in stem cells
  • Signaling in bone and cartilage  
  • Signaling in adipose tissue
  • Signaling in vascular endothelial cells
  • Signaling in smooth muscle cells
  • Signaling in cardiac muscle
  • Signaling in skeletal muscle
  • Signaling in hematopoiesis
  • Signaling in cancer cells
  • Signaling in cancer stroma