Biol/NSB 343/543 -- Spring, 2008

Stephen Devoto

sdevoto@wesleyan.edu

Office hours:
Tuesdays, 2:00-4:00PM

685-3461
306 Shanklin


GRADING Grant guidelines
summary
Reading a scientific paper Scientific writing

Date

Topic

Readings (all class handouts, except for Pechenik)

Science Communication Assignment

Jan 24 Intro, goals, expectations

The Motor Unit

Bear, Connors, Paradiso
Neuroscience, pp436-464
.
WRITING WELL PECHENIK CHAPTER 1 and 2 in-class (ungraded): re-writing the passive voice

Jan 31

Muscle cell biology and function: membranes

Alberts, page 631-657
Alberts, page 949-965

1. Re-writing the passive voice
Ungraded: answer questions on Gore's presentation style

COMMUNICATING WITH POWERPOINT

Al Gore: An inconvenient truth
PECHENIK CHAPTER 14

Feb 7 The Neuromuscular Junction
COMMUNICATING SCIENCE TO NON-SCIENTISTS Matthew, pages 110-129
PECHENIK CHAPTER 8

Essay: The Tangle, by Jonathan Weiner, from The New Yorker

2. Outlining. Write a one-page Outline of Weiner Essay
Feb 14 Development of muscle: embryology

Gilbert, pages 465-477
Review article TBD

3. 1-2 page summary of a neuromuscular disorder, For an interested non-biologist.

READING ORIGINAL RESEARCH

PECHENIK CHAPTER 3
See also this page

In-class: reading a scientific paper.

Feb 21

Stem cells
satellite cells

to be determined

4. Summary of a research paper for a biologist:

Feb 28 Muscular Dystrophy to be determined
March 6 Motoneuron development and death Old student grant proposals 5. Grant reviews due
GRANT REVIEW SESSION to be determined In-class: discussion of grants
BREAK
March 27 Motor neuron pathfinding to be determined

Sign up for class presentations

to be determined

6A. Grant topic and 2 citations for grant due.

April 3

Devoto Intro

to be determined

.

6 short presentations

to be determined

6B. Specific aims due

April 10

Devoto Intro

to be determined

6 short presentations

to be determined

6C. Draft of grant due.

April 17

Devoto Intro

to be determined

6 short presentations

to be determined

7. Friendly critique due.

April 24

Laboratory in Muscle Development

to be determined

.

8. GRANTS DUE

May 1st Grant reviews in class

  Potential special topics: