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BISC 5b: Diseases of the Mind
Fall 2015
Professor: Melissa Kosinski-Collins, SSC 016A, kosinski@brandeis.edu
Office Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 1:00-2:00
TA: Fay Laborio, flaborio@brandeis.edu
Class Meeting Time: M, W, Th 8:00-8:50 am
Summary:
BISC5b is a course designed for students interested in human diseases, but who may not
necessarily have a strong background in biology. This course is designed to serve
students seeking the HSSP major and for non-biology students interested in fulfilling
their science requirement.
We will explore the biology of several protein folding diseases including Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Mad Cow disease and how they affect normal brain
function. We take an in-depth look at how a small change in chemistry in a single
protein can cause such a devastating impact on human health. We will examine the
medical and ethical challenges of therapies, drug design, and clinical trials on patients
afflicted with these disorders, and will explore the steps made in treatment and
detection from the historical original diagnosis procedures to today.
Prerequisite: High School Chemistry
Note: Does not meet the requirements for the major in biology. May not be taken by
students who have completed Biology 15b
Learning Objectives:
After completion of this course students should be able to:
 Explain basic concepts in biology including cellular structure, biomacromolecule
composition and structure and nervous system function.
 Explain the biological basis, treatment and progression of neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, Huntington’s and Mad Cow
disease.
 Create cohesive book-report style critical essays using scientifically-supported
arguments and data.
Course Description:
We will explore the biology of several protein folding diseases including Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Mad Cow disease and how they affect normal brain
function. We will examine the medical and ethical challenges of therapies, drug design,
and clinical trials on patients afflicted with these disorders.
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Course Format:
This course will meet three times a week. Most classes will involve a lecture component
as well as a discussion component. Written homework problems will be assigned
periodically. You are required to complete and turn in all homework problems to
receive credit for the problem set and participation portion of your grade. Several times
throughout the semester, you will be asked to read a paper in biology and be prepared
to discuss the papers in class. You are required to submit two discussion questions to
the professor via email on the night before the discussion class. Submission of your
discussion questions will be part of your homework grade. Your participation grade will
stem from your ability to participate in these discussions and provide insightful feedback.
You may not pass in any homework assignments late as we will discuss them in class the
day they are due.
If you have a documented learning disability and would like to have an accommodation made in
taking this class, please inform the professor immediately.
Academic Integrity:
Conduct inconsistent with the policies on academic honesty in "Rights and Responsibilities" will
be treated seriously.
Textbook:
There is no required textbook for this course. Required course material and reading will
be posted periodically on the course website.
It may be beneficial to have any introductory biology textbook available as a background
reference text if needed. The following book will be available on reserve in the science
library. All reference supplementary readings come from this text. The supplementary
readings are recommended if you are having trouble with a particular concept, they are
not required.
Purves, et al. 2004. Life Sinauer Assoc. Sunderland, MA.
You must purchase one of the assigned texts from the reading list during the course of
the semester for your final project. As the list includes various readings in popular
literature, these texts will not be available on reserve in the science library.
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Grading:
Your grade for the course will be determined by your scores on 2, fifty minute in class
quizzes and a final written project which you must present in class. Each quiz will
constitute 10% of your grade. You will have the opportunity to take a version of these
exams again in a group format the day following the individual exam. Each group exam
will also be worth 10% of your final grade.
Your final project will be 40% of your grade, your homework will be 10% and class
participation will count for another 10%. Because part of your grade is based on
participation, you are required to attend and to be prepared for all lectures. Homework
will periodically be assigned and collected and will help prepare you for the following
class topic(s). For each homework assignment you are required to hand-in two
discussion questions regarding the paper by 9 am on the date of the assignment. Please
upload these questions onto the course Latte site. No late homework will be accepted.
Periodically throughout the semester on unannounced days, attendance will be taken at
the beginning of class (8:00 am). Students either late or absent will lose participation
points for the day.
Four-Credit Course (with three hours of class-time per week)
Success in this 4 credit hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a
minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, papers,
discussion sections, preparation for exams, etc.).
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Syllabus Schedule:
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 31
Wednesday, September 2
Thursday, September 3
Wednesday, September 9
Course introduction
Biological Hierarchy
Cellular composition: Bonding
and structures, Central dogma
Cellular composition: Proteins
and Aggregation
Aggregation II
Thursday, September 10
Cellular structure and
heterogeneity
The nervous system I
Wednesday, September 16
The nervous system II
Thursday, September 17
The nervous system III
Monday, September 21
Brain anatomy
Thursday, September 24
Brain Imaging I
Tuesday, September 29
Clinical Trials
Wednesday, September 30
Exam I
Thursday, October 1
Group Exam I
Wednesday, October 7
Alzheimer’s Disease I:
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Alzheimer’s Disease II:
Treatment
Alzheimer’s Disease III:
Treatment
Assign Books
In class writing exercise
Alzheimer’s Disease IV:
Treatment
Parkinson’s Disease I:
Molecular Basis
Parkinson’s Disease II:
Symptoms and complications
Parkinson’s Disease III:
Thursday, October 8
Monday, October 12
Wednesday, October 14
Thursday, October 15
Monday, October 19
Wednesday, October 21
Thursday, October 22
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Homework 1
Chapter 36
Homework 2
Homework 3
Homework 4
Homework 5
Thesis/Motive
Homework 6
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Monday, October 26
Wednesday, October 28
Thursday, October 29
Monday, November 2
Wednesday, November 4
Treatment
Huntington’s I: Molecular Basis Annotated
Bibliography
Huntington’s II:
Homework 7
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Huntington’s III:
Treatment
Huntington’s IV
Wednesday, November 18
ALS I:
Molecular Basis
ALS II:
Symptoms and Diagnosis
ALS III:
Treatment
Prions I:
Molecular Basis
Prions II:
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Prions III:
Treatment
Exam II
Thursday, November 19
Group Exam II
Monday, November 23
Wednesday, December 2
Long term medical care:
A physician’s perspective
Accessing benefits for terminal
illnesses
Presentations
Thursday, December 3
Presentations
Monday, December 7
Presentations
Wednesday, December 9
Presentations
Thursday, November 5
Monday, November 9
Wednesday, November 11
Thursday, November 12
Monday, November 16
Monday, November 30
Homework 8
Scientific Disease
Context
Homework 9
Homework 10
Book Synopsis
Final Draft of Paper