BIOL 4140 · 4 credits · Kristen Johnson + Matthew Northam (lab) · ALLWINE 309/408

Cellular Biology — Fall 2026

Modern study of mammalian cell function with an experimental focus: tissue culture, cell staining, fluorescent microscopy, gene-expression analysis, high-throughput assay design. Expect Johnson's research lens — adherens + gap junction biology + cancer-related cell adhesion.

Quick start

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Study Guide

12-unit Alberts MBoC walkthrough.
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Flashcards

~150 vocab + concept cards.
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Mastery

Spaced-repetition drill.
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Practice Exam

40 MC with explanations.
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Cheat Sheet

Printable 1-page reference.
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Books

Alberts MBoC + Anna's Archive + chapter maps.

Course style + lab

Johnson's lecture covers concepts; Northam runs the lab block (Mon 1-3:50). Lab tasks: passaging mammalian cells, immunofluorescence staining, fluorescence microscopy, RT-qPCR, plate-based assays. Pre-reqs (already done): BIOL 2140 + BIOL 3020 + CHEM 2210/2250.

Semester roadmap (Aug 24 → Dec 18)

WkUnitTopics
1U1 — Cells & the cell theoryCell types, evolution, model organisms, microscopy intro.
2U2 — Cell chemistryWater, biomolecules, catalysis, energy, ATP.
3U3 — ProteinsStructure (1°-4°), folding, allostery, motors, regulation.
4U4 — DNA & chromosomesReplication, repair, chromosomes, telomeres.
5U5 — Gene expressionTranscription, splicing, translation, regulation.
6U6 — Membranes & transportLipid bilayer, transporters, channels, pumps.
7U7 — Internal compartmentsER, Golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondria, sorting signals.
8U8 — Vesicle trafficCoats, SNAREs, exocytosis, endocytosis.
9U9 — Energy conversionMitochondrial OXPHOS, chloroplasts, chemiosmosis.
10U10 — Cell signalingGPCR, RTK, MAPK, PI3K-AKT, Notch, Wnt, TGF-β.
11U11 — CytoskeletonActin, microtubules, IF; motors; migration.
12U12 — Cell cycle & deathCyclins/Cdks, checkpoints, apoptosis, autophagy.
13U13 — Cell-cell junctions (Johnson focus)Adherens, tight, desmosome, gap, hemidesmosome.
14U14 — Cancer + tissuesHallmarks, metastasis, EMT, ECM, stem cells.
15U15 — Lab techniquesTissue culture, IF, FACS, RT-qPCR, knockdown, CRISPR.

References & free textbooks