BIOL393C - STEM CELL AND REGENERATION LAB
Spring 2024
Course Instructor: Dr. Christopher Arnold
Class sessions: Thursday (R) 2:30-5:20 PM
Room: LSB - 3112
Course format: Graded Lab, 1 meeting per week
Course Description: In this course, students will learn fundamental principles of stem cell and regeneration biology while gaining a better understanding of how this basic knowledge fuels innovations in regenerative medicine. These concepts will be taught through a hands-on learning experience using planaria, a simple and powerful research model for stem cell and regeneration studies. After gaining the requisite knowledge and skills, students will conduct primary research to identify novel roles for genes in stem cells and regeneration and present their findings. This course offers a unique educational opportunity that combines active learning with engagement in authentic stem cell and regeneration biology research. The course is tailored for students with little or no prior research experience and is designed to provide the necessary support to navigate the research process.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to:
· Explain the fundamental principles of stem and regeneration biology
· Apply this stem cell and regeneration knowledge in designing relevant and feasible experiments
· Perform biological experiments and effectively document methods and results
· Analyze, interpret, and communicate the results of stem cell and regeneration experiments
· Design and implement a primary stem cell and regeneration research project
· Present and discuss experimental rationale, approach, results, and conclusions to professional and lay audiences
Course Schedule:
Weeks 1-2 Module 1: Regeneration
Weeks 3-4 Module 2: Stem Cells and Regeneration
Weeks 5-6: Module 3: Patterning and Regeneration
Weeks 7-8: Module 4: Stem Cells and Growth
Week 9: Module 5: Stem Cell Molecular Analysis Techniques
Weeks 10-16: Primary Research Project Investigating Functions of Novel Stem Cell Genes
Spring 2024
Course Instructor: Dr. Christopher Arnold
Class sessions: Thursday (R) 2:30-5:20 PM
Room: LSB - 3112
Course format: Graded Lab, 1 meeting per week
Course Description: In this course, students will learn fundamental principles of stem cell and regeneration biology while gaining a better understanding of how this basic knowledge fuels innovations in regenerative medicine. These concepts will be taught through a hands-on learning experience using planaria, a simple and powerful research model for stem cell and regeneration studies. After gaining the requisite knowledge and skills, students will conduct primary research to identify novel roles for genes in stem cells and regeneration and present their findings. This course offers a unique educational opportunity that combines active learning with engagement in authentic stem cell and regeneration biology research. The course is tailored for students with little or no prior research experience and is designed to provide the necessary support to navigate the research process.
Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this class, students will be able to:
· Explain the fundamental principles of stem and regeneration biology
· Apply this stem cell and regeneration knowledge in designing relevant and feasible experiments
· Perform biological experiments and effectively document methods and results
· Analyze, interpret, and communicate the results of stem cell and regeneration experiments
· Design and implement a primary stem cell and regeneration research project
· Present and discuss experimental rationale, approach, results, and conclusions to professional and lay audiences
Course Schedule:
Weeks 1-2 Module 1: Regeneration
Weeks 3-4 Module 2: Stem Cells and Regeneration
Weeks 5-6: Module 3: Patterning and Regeneration
Weeks 7-8: Module 4: Stem Cells and Growth
Week 9: Module 5: Stem Cell Molecular Analysis Techniques
Weeks 10-16: Primary Research Project Investigating Functions of Novel Stem Cell Genes