GMS 6001 - Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences
Fall 2007
Course Description
Course Director: Wayne McCormack, Ph.D., R1-102, 392-7413, mccormac@pathology.ufl.edu
Overview:
Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences is a one-semester course consisting
of six lecture hours, two discussion hours, and one hour of grand rounds
per week during the Fall semester. The course provides exposure to fundamentals of
all of the disciplines represented by the six advanced concentrations in
the College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Science,
and is designed to prepare students for study in any one of the advanced
concentrations and at the same time provide training which is sufficiently
broad to accommodate a diversity of careers in virtually any branch of
modern biomedical science. While the lectures provide a survey of the material,
the discussions provide a more intimate, in-depth examination of individual
topics. Discussion groups are relatively small, containing approximately
ten students and one faculty member. Most discussions focus on a research
article and provide in-depth discussion of a discipline through a rigorous
examination of this literature. To ensure uniformity among all of the discussion
groups, a coordinator for each discussion will identify the appropriate
literature and major points to be covered by all of the discussion groups.
Grand rounds consists of a presentation by a basic scientist and/or a clinician
covering a clinically important human disease which is also relevant to
the subject matter being covered in the lecture and discussion material. Grand rounds
are intended to enhance the significance of the other aspects of the course, and
provide insight into the relevance of basic research into current problems in
public health.
Content and Philosophy:
The curriculum for Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences was developed in
a collaborative effort by faculty representing the College of Medicine
Advanced Concentrations in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics,
Immunology & Microbiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Neuroscience, and
Physiology & Pharmacology. These disciplines together naturally represent
a comprehensive perspective on biomedical research and human disease. The
guiding philosophy in curriculum development was to integrate the fundamental
knowledge of each of these disciplines in a logical succession so that
each segment builds on previous sections and anticipates future sections. The result is a progression of material which might be described as "Molecules
to Man".
The Fall semester deals with cellular and subcellular processes beginning
with the biochemistry of macromolecules, progressing through genetics and
molecular biology, and culminating with cell biology. During the Spring
semester, a series of core modules is available, which span a variety of topics
at the tissue, organ system and whole organism level. The final result is a rich and current perspective
on biomedical science.
An essential practical goal of the curriculum is to provide students
with the experience and knowledge necessary to read the primary research
literature in any field of biomedical science. This goal is accomplished
through the interplay between the lectures, grand rounds and discussions. The lectures and grand rounds provide students with a current overview
perspective and factual information concerning all aspects of biomedical
science, while the discussions provide practical experience in the application
of this knowledge through the study of relevant primary literature.
Organization:
To take full advantage of the expertise of the College of Medicine faculty,
experts have been identified for each lecture, discussion, or grand rounds
meeting. To maintain continuity within this structure, the course has been
subdivided into sections, and a faculty leader has been identified for
each section. The section leader is responsible for the organization, content,
and continuity of material within each section, and the section leaders
as a group ensure that continuity is maintained throughout the semester.
Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the faculty. Students
who have trouble understanding the material in a lecture or discussion,
should feel free to contact the lecturer, the section leader, or the course
director.
Exams:
Six written exams will be given in the course, one for each
section. The format of each exam is
determined by the section leader and may be closed book, open book, take home,
or a mixture of formats. The examinations will be scheduled outside of regular
class hours. Material in the exams covers all aspects of the curriculum
including lectures, discussions,
grand rounds and assigned reading.
Each section will be graded on a 100 point scale. The point value of
the exam will be 100 points minus any grades that may be assigned for
participation in discussions (see discussion
format for details). The mean and distribution
of scores for each section will be calculated and posted. Letter grades will not be
awarded for individual sections during the Fall semester.
At the end of the semester, a cumulative
score will be calculated for each student, along with a mean and distribution
for the class. Points will be included from team-based learning sessions
(to be determined). Letter grades will then be assigned taking into consideration
the final mean and distribution of all scores. The maximum cut-offs for final
letter grades will be: A 85; B+ 80; B 75; C+ 70; C
60.
Textbook and Handouts:
The core course web site is the primary resource for
information about the course. Students are responsible for examining this
site regularly and thoroughly to keep up to date with course requirements and
content.
New editions for textbooks are available this year.
The required texts for the Fall semester of the course are listed below.
All have been ordered by the Health Science Center bookstore.
 |
"Molecular Cell Biology" (Sixth Edition) by Lodish et
al. W.H. Freeman, 2008 (book
info) |
 |
"Biochemistry" (Third Edition, Volumes 1&2), by Voet & Voet. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004
(book
info) |
 |
"An Introduction of Genetic Analysis" (Ninth Edition) by
et al. W.H. Freeman, 2008 (book
info) |
Additional handouts and required reading material will be made available as required.
Course Evaluation:
Students will be required to evaluate each section of the course immediately
following the examination for that section. At the end of each semester,
students will be required to evaluate the entire semester in a summary
evaluation.
Last revised 8/9/07 wtm