NSCI 249/BCSC 249: Syllabus

Spring 2024

Mondays & Wednesdays 9-10:15 am
Goergen 108

Personnel

Instructor: Mary Wines-Samuelson

Prerequisites: BCSC 240 (NSCI 201)

Course Description

BCS 249 is designed to give an in-depth overview of seminal topics in the developing nervous system of multiple organisms. The course will cover development from an integrated cell biological, molecular, and physiological perspective. We will explore factors that influence the development of neural organization and function. Topics include the production, migration, differentiation and survival of neurons; functional specialization of neural regions; axonal navigation; and target mapping. The course compares and contrasts developmental plasticity with forms of neural plasticity exhibited in adults. In parallel with lectures, students will present and discuss a handful of research articles pertaining to human disorders of neural development. To close the course, we will highlight relationships between neural development and degeneration, and how aberrant developmental mechanisms may contribute to disease pathology.

Course Format

This is a lecture-only course; no lab is required. Lectures will be taught mainly by me (the instructor), with three lectures given by University of Rochester faculty researchers knowledgeable in the specific lecture material to be presented. Weekly recitations (one per week) are 50 minutes, and attendance is mandatory

Readings

The main textbook is Development of the Nervous System (4th edition, eds. Sanes, Reh, and Harris); this is available on-line through the library. Supplemental readings from Principles of Neural Science (eds. Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessell) and Principles of Development (eds. Wolpert and Tickle), as well as research reviews or articles are available through Blackboard.

Quizzes

Short online (available on Blackboard) multiple choice quizzes will be given throughout the semester (a total of 5) due at the beginning of weekly recitations. You may take these using class materials; they are meant to provide a good review. You will discuss the answers in recitation. Taking these should be an easy way for you to improve your studying and your grade. Each quiz will count for 10 points.

Journal clubs

Four journal club recitations will be held during the semester; during the 50-minute session, each person will work with his/her group to present one of the figures. A 1-page worksheet of questions about the paper will be made available in Gradescope one week before the journal club recitation, which you will fill out in Gradescope and return to your TA at the beginning of the recitation session prior to presentations. The worksheet will contribute 10 points to the journal club grade, and the oral presentation will contribute 10 points to the grade.

Final Presentation

There will be an optional final research presentation that will contribute 100 points maximum toward your final grade. It may be an in-class, 10-minute oral presentation with powerpoint slides, or a 5-page written report (details will be provided in class). Students will choose a topic from a list; additional topics should be discussed with me.

Grade Determination

Three in-class exams will be given; there will be no cumulative final exam. Your attendance in mandatory review sessions will also count toward your grade, as well as your quiz grades. To improve your grade, you may prepare the optional development and degeneration final presentation; it will not replace an exam grade, but will be averaged as a fourth exam grade with the three in-class exams. Letter grades will be assigned to numerical grades as follows: A, 93 and above; A-, 90-92; B+, 87-89; B, 83- 86; B-, 80-82; C+, 77-79; C, 73-76; C-, 70-72; D+, 67-69; D, 63-66; D-, 60-62; F, 59 and below.

Grade Breakdown (% final grade with/without final presentation)

3 exams x 100 = 300 points
5 quizzes x 10= 50 points
1 homework assignment= 10 points
5 journal clubs (presentations + worksheets) x 20= 100 points
12 recitations (1 skip given + no recitation during break) x 5= 60 points
Optional final presentation x 100= 100 points
Total possible points= 620 (520 without presentation)

Recitation Sessions

There will be a weekly, mandatory concept discussion session offered on Mondays from 7:50-8:40 pm and Thursdays from 4:50-5:40 pm in Meliora 224. If necessary due to COVID19 restrictions, we may need to hold recitations online, in which case an announcement will be made and a Zoom link posted on Blackboard. Sessions will be led by our knowledgeable BCSC 249 TAs, Mia Canning and McKenzie (Yuhyun) Yun. The format of these recitations will be to work in groups of 2-4 students, and to discuss questions given by your TA that pertain to the week’s lectures. Your TAs will be available to answer questions and aid discussion.

Office Hours

There will be no regularly scheduled office hours; however, please email me to ask questions or to arrange a time to meet (in person or by Zoom) if needed. Also, I am generally available immediately after class to answer urgent questions.

Academic Honesty

Please be honest when taking exams or writing your final presentation; do your own work, and state your own ideas. I will gladly discuss any specific questions you may have with regard to classwork or exams. If you need clarification of the university policy, you may read the policy online.

Difficulty With Class

If you need more help with the class, email or talk to me. Please take advantage of the recitation sessions, and find a study partner. Tutoring is also available for free through the Center for Excellence and Teaching (CETL).