Cell Biology and Neuroscience Courses

• Developmental biology is a diverse and rapidly changing field. This course integrates molecular, cellular and organismal approaches to address problems of cell differentiation, morphogenesis and pattern formation, organ formation, growth and reproduction. Different organisms are introduced as model systems for analysis.   Contemporary health and ethics issues relevant to developmental biology are also considered in this course.
• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 3
• Course URL: The course will use the Canvas website as a learning tool including for the posting of lecture materials and supplementary information.  Students must have internet access, and a computer.

Prerequisites    

Fundamentals of Cell and Developmental Biology 01:146:270

Course Syllabus 

Spring 2025 Syllabus (Subject to change)

Course Satisfies Learning Goals 

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.

2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.

3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy             

There will be a total of three exams. Two of these exams will be held during regularly scheduled class periods. The last exam will be given during the final exam period. All students will maintain a learning journal and a subject related infographic that will be submitted for evaluation. All students will be required to submit a written review of a current research article in the field of developmental biology. Graduate students (all students registered for 148:504) will be expected to write a short research review paper. The format and topic of the paper must be approved in advance.

Course Materials             

Required Text: DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, 13th Edition, by Scott Gilbert. Published by Sinauer Associates. Students may use one of two formats of the text: Hardbound ISBN: 978019757451 or the E-version ISBN: 9780197574652.

Supplementary reading will be proved throughout the course and uploaded to Canvas.

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. If you have any questions, please contact the CBN advising via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Faculty 

Dr. Arnold G. Hyndman

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 3
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites

Fundamentals of Cell Biology 01:146:270

Course Description

This course addresses advanced concepts of cell biology, focusing on transmembrane transport (module 1), signal transduction (module 2), cytoskeletal dynamics (module 3), and cell adhesion (module 4).
Classes meet in person twice per week (2x80 min). Attendance and participation are strongly encouraged.

This course is intended for junior or senior students majoring in CBN and fulfills one of the advanced course requirements for this major (R10). The course may also be used to fulfill the elective requirements of the CBN (R11) or Biological Sciences major and is also suitable for other Life Science students who have a strong background in cell biology.

Course Syllabus

Spring 2026 Syllabus

Course Satisfies Learning Goals

Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society. These goals are consistent with those set by the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, as well as the Division of Life Sciences at Rutgers University.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Four 80-minute exams will count toward 60% of the final grade. There will be no comprehensive final exam. Additional quizzes will be offered during each module and count for 40% of the final grade.

Course Materials

Recommended Text:

MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY, by Lodish, Berk, Kaiser, Krieger, Bretscher, Ploegh, Martin, Yaffe and Amon. 9th Edition (2021), Macmillan Learning. ISBN: 9781319365028 (eBook), 9781319426736 (access card), 9781319208523 (paperback).

Additional slide notes, videos and reading material will be posted on Canvas.

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. If you have any questions, please contact the CBN advising via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Faculty

Course Coordinator and Instructor:

Prof. Gabriella D'Arcangelo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
B211 in Nelson Biological Laboratories, Busch Campus
(848) 445-3306

Other Faculty Instructors:

• Prof. Max Tischfield (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Fall
• Credits: 3
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites 

General Biology 01:119:115-116 or 01:119:101-102

Genetics 01:447:380 or 01:447:384

Recommended: General Microbiology 01:447:390

Course Description 

Fundamental principles of immunology with emphasis on innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as the generation of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes and proteins. We will also study the immune response and how it is related to diseases, including hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmunity, bacterial and viral infections (including HIV) and cancer.

Course Syllabus

Fall 2022 Syllabus

Course Satisfies Learning Goals 

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in Immunology that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information and relate it to disease outcomes.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of immunology and its relevance to human health- in our society as well as globally.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy 

Four exams will be given. Each exam will cover approximately the same amount of material and be worth 17.5% of the final grade (70% total weight for exams). There is no comprehensive final. The fourth exam will be given at the scheduled time in the Final Exam Period. Exams will be given in class and consist primarily of multiple-choice questions. Weekly quizzes will be accessed on  Canvas and account for an additional 30% of the course grade. 

Course Materials 

Janeway's Immunobiology. Murphy, 19th Edition

ISBN:978:0393884890

Course Closed? 

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. If you have any questions, please contact the CBN advising via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Faculty 

Course Coordinator:

Dr. Brian Daniels

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr. Peng Jiang 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr. Ping Xie

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 1
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites:

Students are required to take the Immunology 01:146:474 course before taking this course.

Course Materials:                

Lab manual

Course Schedule:

Wednesday 10:20 am- 1:20 pm

Wednesday 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Course Description:

The overall objective of this course is to give the advanced biology students experience with addressing immunological questions through experimentation. A representative experiment will be the analysis of different lymphocyte subsets in distinct lymphoid tissues of the mouse. Specific techniques will analyze RNA and cytokine secretion in different immune cell populations and explore the functions of these unique cells.

Representative Schedule (may be slightly modified year to year):

Title of Labs:

1. Introduction to immunology lab and examination of peripheral blood smears

2. Isolation of mouse spleen mononuclear cells by density gradient centrifugation

3. Immunofluorescence staining of mouse splenocytes and thymocytes

4. Identification of B cell and T cell populations of mouse spleen and thymus by flow cytometry

5. Harvest of mouse lymphoid tissues and preservation of lymphoid tissues for RNA extraction

4. Preparation of RNA from mouse lymphoid tissues and analysis of T cell-specific gene expression by RT-PCR

5. Collection of mouse peritoneal lavage and harvest of mouse lymphoid tissues

6. Measurement of inflammatory cytokines secreted from activated macrophages by ELISA

7. Activation of B cells and preparation of proteins from naïve and activated B cells

8. Quantification of a B cell-specific protein by Western blot analysis

Course Syllabus:

Spring 2022 Syllabus

Course Satisfies Learning Goals:

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in immunology that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information and relate it to disease outcomes.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of immunology and its relevance to human health and to our society.
4. Use experimental techniques to address immunological questions.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy:

Final course grades will be assigned according to the total points accumulated from scores on the assignments indicated below. Neither individual assignments nor final course grades will be “curved” in any way. Your final grade in the course will be determined by the weighted average of your scores using the following distribution:

Regular deadline for quiz  or lab report submission each week: 11:59 pm Friday

Course help provided:

Weekly office hours of each instructor and the TA are available to the students that need help via virtual meetings.

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. We ask that if you are provided an spn for a course and choose not to use it, to please notify our offices at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we may provide it to the next student.

Course Coordinator:            

Dr. Ping Xie

B336 Nelson Labs

(848) 445-0802

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Additional instructor:        

  Dr. Brian Daniels

Nelson Labs B314

(848) 445-2709

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.