To accomplish these objectives, we shall read and discuss the text in its entirety. Since this splendid work presents the core information and concepts of virology in such a pellucid and compelling manner, lecture periods will usually be conducted in "seminar" style to allow a detailed examination of the classic papers for each topic. Additional papers from the current literature will also be presented and discussed. For these discussions to be effective, you must spend time reading and thinking about the papers before class! Since the class is so large this semester, I shall designate "discussion leaders" for each period. Each of those persons shall be required to submit to me via e-mail a set of three questions about the papers. These questions will then be used to guide the discussion.
You will frequently be asked to locate a paper on a particular topic using the electronic data bases and abstracting services available through the college library. These papers will be the basis for a variety of written or oral assignments: you may be asked to explain the meaning of a figure from a paper, to write a brief statement explaining how the new paper answers a particular question raised by another paper, or to write a brief critique of the paper.
Since reading and writing are reciprocal activities, you will also write "scientific papers" to present the results of small projects you will conduct in lab. We must share the laboratory with Molecular Biology this semester, so those projects will be confinded to bacteriophage. You will also make brief oral presentations of your projects.
The concluding project for the course will be writing and presenting a grant proposal for a research project on some question that you have researched over the course of the semester. Each of you will write a proposal of your own and will also serve as a "preliminary reviewer" for another person´s proposal.
Back to the Biology 385 Homepage