Biology 315 Animal Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Lecture and Discussion: TR - 11:00 a.m. - Olin 001
Laboratory: M - 1:00-4:00 p.m. - Arey 305

We will discuss some important and timely topics of animal tissue biology. While most of our discussions will focus on human and other mammalian tissues, I hope you will come to understand how all animal cells unite and stay organized to form multicellular organisms. We will not cover all the areas of tissue biology, or even have the time to explore all of the organ systems you might like, but the principle objective of this course is to give you some experiences that will be helpful to you if you wish to pursue your own interests in microanatomy and cellular and tissue physiology. In lab, for the first 7 weeks or so, you will examine the different tissue types we discuss in class. The second part of the lab will be for you to explore organ systems in depth and to investigate pathological conditions associated with those organ systems.

Attendance at every class meeting and laboratory session is mandatory and I expect you to be there. Unexcused absences from class will result in a reduction of your grade (at my discretion). Please keep in mind that I am the only person who will determine what constitutes an excused absence for this course. Laboratory for this class is mostly a self-governed, self scheduled event, and you will be given considerable flexibility in scheduling your work, and a key to the laboratory will be available in the science library. The student teaching assistants and I will be available during the scheduled lab time. Also, I may provide new material during lab, particularly at the beginning of lab. Both of these issues will have to be taken into account during your planning.
Readings

• The text for the course is: Mescher, Anthony L. 2010. Junqueira's Basic Histology, Text and Atlas, 12th ed. McGraw Hill, NY, NY. 467 pp.
  
  
• Additional required readings may be placed on reserve in the science library, or will be available online (linked below).
  
  

  Readings from the text will supplement the lectures and discussions, which will be encouraged during class periods. You can also use your textbook during lab periods to help clarify tissue structures that we will examine. In addition, there will be several other atlases available in the laboratory during the first weeks of the course to supplement your text.