7/25/2019 MICROBIO Syllabus

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University of Massachusetts Amherst

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Instructor: Mitchell J Walkowicz Ph.D.

Department of Microbiology

mjwalkow@cns.umass.edu

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore how Cancerand AIDSbegin and progress. We will discuss the roles of individual cellsthe immune system, gene mutations and infectious agents in cancer development, as well as how various physical

genetic and environmental factors influence one's chances of getting cancer. The class will cover specific cancers

treatment strategies, and how lifestyle affects cancer risks and survival. The class will cover HIV biology,transmission, prevention strategies, treatment, principles of vaccine development and why HIV presents special

challenges for vacinologists. Finally, we will seek to better understand what cancer and AIDS can teach us about

the human nature, health, healing, disease, living, and dying. Students who enroll in this course will be expected

to possess the discipline and initiative to read, review, listen, discuss and study subject material that is presentedin lectures, the class website and the textbooks. Your understanding of the course material will be assessed

through 3 in class exams, writing assignments and an optional final exam. The instructor and teaching assistants

will guide your studies through review sessions prior to each exam.

II.RATIONALE: A well-educated person in the 21stcentury should have some knowledge of the biological

sciences and the theories that have been developed to explain and understand the great complexity of the human

body and the diversity seen in natural environment. Specifically, a college graduate should have a basicunderstanding of the biological processes involved in disease development and progression, treatment options

and our role in disease prevention through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. Cancer and AIDS are two of

the most important diseases of the 20thand 21stcentury, affecting millions of people each year. Approximately1.5 million Americans will be newly diagnosed with cancer this year and almost 8 million people worldwide

died of the disease last year. Over 38 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS, every 16

secondssomeone contracts HIV/AIDS and every 12secondssomeone dies of AIDS. It is therefore essentialthat future leaders fully understand the scientific, social and political issues associated with these diseases.

III.Recommended TEXTBOOKS

Principles of Cancer Biologyby Lewis J. Kleinsmith, 2008

The Biology of AIDS, 2ndEd.by Wilmore Webley, 2009

You may purchase this from the publisher http://www.kendallhunt.com/webley/

Biology of Cancer and AIDS SPRING 2016

Micro 160 https://moodle.umass.edu/course/view.php?id=28444 Credit Hours: Mahar MWF 11:1512:05

TAs: Johnathan Miller jcmiller@microbio.umass.eduSteven van Alstine svanalstine@cns.umass.edu

http://www.kendallhunt.com/webley/http://www.kendallhunt.com/webley/http://www.kendallhunt.com/webley/

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V. COURSE STRUCTURE

EXAMS:There will be three exams during class time as indicated in the schedule. TheFinal Examis optional

unless you have missed an in class exam. Any student who misses one of the three class exams must take the final

exam. There are no makeup exams in this class. If you take all three exams in class and still choose to take thefinal, your lowest grade will be dropped and your final grade will be the average of your 3 best exam grades plus

the written assignments. If you only take three exams no exam grade will be dropped.Exams will account for 65% of your final grade in this class.

Please bring a #2 pencil to each exam.

Your exam will be taken from you and you will receive a zero for any instance of exchanging information

during an exam.

QUIZES and WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: There will be three quizzes (10% of grade) will be available on

Moodle, they will help review material prior to exams.Writing assignments account for 25% of your final grade

They will include two short writing assignments (15%) and a longer cancer report (10%). They are meant to giveyou practice with a scientific vocabulary and assembling a comprehensive block of information.

Details of these assignments and due dates will be announced in class and posted well in advance on MOODLE

GRADES: Your final grade will be based on three best exam scores (65%) and writing assignment and quizgrades (35%) the grade scale is listed below.

ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: Students are strongly encouraged to

attend all lectures, review and discussion sessions; however attendance will not berecorded. Students should review the lecture slides and assigned reading before the

scheduled lecture and be prepared to participate in classroom discussions or answer

questions when called upon.

CLASS COMMUNICATION: All class-related communicationwill be handledthrough the Moodle course site. This includes emails, grades, answer keys, PDF

copies of lecture slides, announcements and reading assignments.

ACCOMODATIONS: Please see or email me if you require special accommodations due to learning

disabilities, religious practices, physical requirements, medical needs, or any other reasons. Students withdisabilities who will require special assistance should register with Disability Services. You can find more

information athttp://www.umass.edu/disability/.

PLAGIARISM: The University of Massachusetts has a strictacademic honesty policyincluding aplagiarism

policy(please visithttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/). The University has a

great compilation of resources on how toavoid plagiarismand you should take some time to review these. Anyindication or instance of plagiarism will be investigated and students will receive a grade of zero for a first clear

offense. A second offense will be reported to theAcademic Honesty Boardand a hearing will be held to

determine a final action. Of course the goal is to avoid this process. Please read the Universitys policy onAvoiding PlagiarismandAcademic Dishonesty policies.The TAs and instructor are always willing to help you

avoid these problems in the first place.

Grade Scale

A--------------93-100

A----------------89-92B+--------------86-88

B ----------------82-85

B----------------79-81

C+--------------76-78

C----------------73-75

C----------------70-72D+---------------65-69

D-----------------60-64

F-----------Below 60

http://www.umass.edu/disability/http://www.umass.edu/disability/http://www.umass.edu/disability/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#ahboardhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#ahboardhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#ahboardhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#Bhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#Bhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#Bhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#Bhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/#ahboardhttp://www.umass.edu/writingprogram/geninfo/plagiarism.htmlhttp://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/academichonesty/http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/http://www.umass.edu/disability/

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VI. EXAM SCHEDULE and TENTATIVE LECTURE TOPICS

day date description day date description

W 1/20 Introductions & Life Expectancy M 3/7 Experimental Bias/Burkitts Lymphoma

F 1/22 Nature of disease W 3/9 Skin Cancer Risk Factors

M 1/25 What is Cancer? F 3/11 Prostate CancerW 1/27 DNA Mutation & Cancer Initiation M 3/21 HPV Infection & Cervical Cance

F 1/29 Profile of a Cancer Cell W 3/23 Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

M 2/1 Cancers Most Deadliest Weapon F 3/25 Cancer Treatment Strategies

W 2/3 Immune Function and Cancer M 3/28 Exam #2

F 2/5 Cancer Epidemiology W 3/30 HIV/AIDS Overview

M 2/8 The Importance of Clinical Trials F 4/1 The Origin of HIV

W 2/10 Cancer Causation M 4/4 The Biology of AIDS

F 2/12 Heredity and Cancer W 4/6 High Risk Behavior & AIDS Tes

T 2/16 F 4/8 When HIV Progresses to AIDS

W 2/17 Exam #1 M 4/11 AIDS in the United StatesF 2/19 Breast Cancer Biology W 4/13 AIDS in the Developing World

M 2/22 Breast Cancer Treatment F 4/15 Treating HIV/AIDS

W 2/24 Diet and Cancer W 4/20 A Cure for Cancer and AIDS?

F 2/26 Colorectal Cancer Progression F 4/22 Will There be an AIDS Vaccine?

M 2/29 Tobacco and Cancer M 4/25 HIV Treatment Horizons

W 3/2 Tobacco and Cancer W 4/27 Exam #3

F 3/4 HPV Liver Cancer