Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Cell and Molecular Biology (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 3310-02

Course: BIOL 3310-02
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: BIOL
CRN: 12508

Course Description

Study of structure and function of cells and organelles from the molecular and experimental perspectives. Three (3) hours of lecture per week. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a biological science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other biology course. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 3315 Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3060 and BIOL 3065 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

  • Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts et al. 7th Edition. ISBN: 978-0-393-42708-0 (Inclusive Access or hard copy)
  • Digital Problems Book in Smartwork

Learning Outcomes

The cell is the fundamental unit of life - the organizational unit that builds higher-order tissues, organs, and organisms. We will take a reductionist approach to understand the cell by examining its constituent parts and determining how they fit and function together. We will attempt to identify how non-living molecular components integrate and interact with each other in order to bring about living processes in the cell, including gene expression, signal transduction, and cell migration. Further, we will identify the molecular tools and techniques that are enabling unprecedented findings about the cell, and will gain skills and confidence to assess recent molecular and cellular research by analyzing primary scientific literature.

By the end of this course, you will understand the following core concepts:
  • Molecular mechanisms of regulating cell behaviors and functions
  • Techniques and tools for molecular cloning, genome engineering, and protein analysis 
  • Regulation strategies that cells employ to control gene expression levels
  • Signaling mechanisms that control the flow of information in the cell
  • Cytoskeletal dynamics that produce cell movement and migration

By the end of this course, you will develop the following skills:
  • Appreciate how biological knowledge is obtained through the scientific method
  • Learn to analyze primary scientific research articles related to cell and molecular biology
  • Apply molecular concepts to real-life scenarios, including health and disease

Course Requirements

A summary of assignments is provided here. Additional information will be given in class.
  1. Notebook Checks - Throughout the semester you will keep a notebook that contains hand-written notes from chapter readings, in-class assignments and practice problems, and individual reflections. I will check your notebooks at the end of each major Deep Dive unit.
  2. Deep Dive Quizzes - Each Deep Dive unit will have a corresponding quiz to determine mastery of the associated content. Each quiz may consist of multiple choice/matching, short answer, long answer, and problem-solving questions. The material covered in class discussions, assigned readings, and practice problems, may be included on these Deep Dive quizzes. The quizzes will be taken on paper during regular class time.
  3. Research Article Analyses - We will examine primary research articles to learn the methods and techniques that uncovered core concepts of molecular and cellular biology. You will work in small groups to analyze the results, verify and/or contest the conclusions, and develop future experiments.
  4. Research Grant Proposal - Throughout the semester you will come up with different ideas for a possible research project. After consultation, you will select one project and write a research grant proposal. The proposal will follow a standard scientific format, including a background section, specific aims, and potential impacts. You will complete the project individually, though you may consult with other students and instructors about your ideas. Additional information will be provided in class and on Canvas.

Assignment | Number | Points Each | Total Points
Notebook Checks | 4 | 30 | 120
Deep Dive Quizzes | 4 | 30 | 120
Research Article Analyses | 4 | 20 | 80
Research Grant Proposal | – | – | 225
     Brainstorming Worksheet | 1 | 15 | 15
     Specific Aims Presentation | 1 | 30 | 30
     Draft Submission | 1 | 30 | 30
     Peer Feedback | 2 | 10 | 20
     Final Submission | 1 | 100 | 100
     Grant Proposal Review | 1 | 30 | 30

The course grade will be determined by a percentage of total points earned in the assignments and exams. The anticipated grade distribution is detailed in the following table. Final grades will be re-examined only if there is sufficient evidence of an error in grading or recording. No special extra credit assignments will be considered for individual students, though some extra credit may be made available to everyone throughout the course.  
Grade | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D | F
% of Total Points (≥) | 93 | 90 | 87 | 83 | 80 | 77 | 73 | 70 | 60 | <60

Course Outline

Date | Topic |
Jan 8 | Course Essentials & Introductions |
Jan 13 | Basics I: Cellular Compartmentalization |
Jan 15 | Basics II: The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology |

Deep Dive #1 - How does a cell receive and internalize information?
Jan 20 | Lecture: Signaling Mechanisms & Integration |
Jan 22 | Jigsaw Activity: Hedgehog, Notch, and G-proteins |
Jan 27 | Article Preview: Cancer Signaling & Apoptosis Evasion |
Jan 29 | Article Analysis: RGS16 in Colorectal Cancer |

Deep Dive #2 - How is the genome altered by cellular signaling?
Feb 3 | Lecture: Nuclear Organization & Chromatin Structure |
Feb 5 | Rotations: Chromatin Remodeling & Histone Modifications |
Feb 10 | Article Preview: Cancer Metastasis |
Feb 12 | Article Analysis: BAP1 in Uveal Melanoma |
Feb 17 | Research Proposal Overview & Brainstorming |

Deep Dive #3 - How is the genomic output refined and tailored?
Feb 19 | Lecture: Post-transcriptional Gene Regulation |
Feb 25 | Data Analysis: Alternative Splicing  |
Feb 27 | Lecture: Targeted Protein Degradation |
Mar 3 | Article Preview: Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, and Cancer |
Mar 5 | Article Analysis: Autophagy-Dependent Alternative Splicing |
Mar 17 | Research Proposal Structure & Specific Aims |

Deep Dive #4 - How does gene expression regulate cellular structure and function?
Mar 19 | Lecture: Cytoskeletal Dynamics & Cell Migration | 
Mar 24 | Modeling: Treadmilling | 
Mar 26 | Article Preview: Blebbing, ECM, and Cancer Cell Migration | 
Mar 31 | Article Analysis: Bleb-Driven Worrying Migration | 

Apr 2 | Specific Aims Sharing & Feedback | 
Apr 7 | Specific Aims Sharing & Feedback | 
Apr 9 | Specific Aims Sharing & Feedback | 

Apr 14 | Perspective I: The Central Dogma & Synthetic Biology | 
Apr 16 | Perspective II: AI and the Future of Cell Biology | 
Apr 21-23 | Mock Grant Proposal Review | 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments turned in late will be subject to a 20% reduction in points immediately (this reduction begins the minute the assignment is late) and 20% lost for every 24 hrs thereafter. After 5 days the assignment will no longer be scored.

Attendance Policy

Attendance & Punctuality: I believe that learning is facilitated through the interactions that come during a well-structured and active class session. Therefore, attendance is required. Topics discussed in class may be included on assignments and quizzes.
Absences:  It is the responsibility of the student to notify me of their absence beforehand if they would like the opportunity to make up any missing work. Also, the student  is responsible for the material that was missed due to the absence.

Participation: Active learning requires the engagement of each student. I expect everyone to come to class prepared and to participate appropriately. I expect mutual respect for others’ ideas, questions, and comments. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.