Problem-Based Learning Resources

Sensorimotor Systems & Behavior

Created by Eric C. Niederhoffer, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Copyright 2000- , E.C. Niederhoffer. All Rights Reserved.
All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.


The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Problem-Based Learning Resources page is designed to support the three objective areas defined by the curriculum.

Check back often for resource page updates! [External links to resources are added (by me) and deleted (by them).]

  • Self-direct learning and articulation
  • Reasoning
  • Interpersonal and group skills

For more information concerning these objectives see PBL: A Student Guide.

As your tutor group works through a Problem-Based Learning Module, learning issues (LI) will be developed. Some groups (as well as some of the cases) are better at this than others. Some groups (and some of the cases) lose focus from time-to-time and important issues are lost in the shuffle.

In order to foster your ability to develop LI and build a knowledge base in biochemistry, including cell and molecular biology, I have created unit LI grids, featured topics, major points, and correlated readings. One can build a foundation by learning about specific topics or by asking questions pertinent to each case. You should note that many of the potential LI appear in multiple cases and across units. You have multiple opportunities to encounter these topics, so don't think that you must completely cover them with any particular case. Note that the link to a PBLM resource page will be activated as tutor groups process that particular case. If you try to open a page too early, it will automatically transfer back to the main unit page.

You will find that my approach differs from that of other faculty. I use animated illustrations during the scheduled help (resource) sessions (overview MS Powerpoint animation or Adobe pdf). My approach is to cover the important content and concepts embedded in each topic in order to provide you with a "big picture of what is important with a clinical emphasis. If you enjoy collected facts, those details are readily available in Devlin and Nelson & Cox (see below for recommended textbooks). You will get more from the help (resource) sessions if you are prepared for each of the announced topics. For those of you with adequate backgrounds in biochemistry, these sessions may not be useful for you. Remember, the help (resource) sessions are optional.

In order to be prepared for tutor group discussions and mid-unit and end-of-unit examinations (and the USMLE), you will be best served by knowing about the topics discussed in the help (resource) sessions (which result from the learning issues), being familiar with the content associated with these topics that can be read from Devlin and Nelson & Cox, and completing the SAQs for each case. I ask a combination of questions that address general concepts and, in some cases, pertinent content. Every examination question has its origin in the SAQs. Asking questions that addess "What is on the exam?" or "What do I need to know?" are highly discouraged. I do encourage questions that better help you understand the topics and learning issues.

Cases

Self-Assessment Questions

The self-assessment questions for the unit are located here.

Mid-Unit Exam Topics

The topics for the mid-unit examination are not yet available.

End-of-Unit Exam Topics

The topics for the end-of-unit examination are not yet available.

Remediation Exam Topics

The topics for the remediation examination are not yet available.

General Resources

You might anticipate exploring the following topics:

LI
 alcohol metabolism (ppt, pdf)  energy production in nervous tissue (ppt, ppt, ppt)
 action potential  enzymes and inhibitors (ppt, To print use doc or pdf)
 apoptosis (ppt)  gene expression (transcription and translation)
 auditory transduction  glycolysis (ppt)
 axonal transport  glycoproteins (ppt)
 bases of clinical assays and tests  inflammation (ppt, pdf)
 bases of genetic diseases (definitions)  ion transport in muscle tissue
 bone remodeling and repair (ppt)  ion transport in brain tissue
 cell communication through gap junctions  molecular analyses of genes
 cell cycle (ppt)  muscle contraction
 cell membrane structure (ppt)  muscle proteins
 connective tissue  neurotransmitter synthesis (ppt, ppt) and processing (ppt)
 electron transport chain (ppt)  signal transduction of smell (ppt, pdf) and taste (ppt, pdf)
 energy production in brain tissue (ppt, ppt)  tricarboxylic acid cycle (ppt)
 energy production in eye tissue (ppt, ppt)  visual transduction (ppt, pdf)
 energy production in muscle tissue (ppt, pdf)  vitamins and dietary sources (ppt, pdf)

General Internet Resources
 Biocarta cellular and metabolic pathways
 Corrrelated readings for clinical laboratory tests
 emedicine for diagnoses and differentials
 Lab Tests Online
 Neurology education home page (SIU-SOM password required)
 Neuromuscular home page (Washington University)
 Videos of surgical procedures

I recommend the following textbooks for biochemistry and cell and molecular biology:

  • Devlin, T. M. (ed.). 2006. Textbook of biochemistry with clinical correlations, 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. This is very good for most of what you need.
  • Karp, G. (ed.). 2005. Cell and molecular biology: concept and experiments, 4th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. This covers cell biology topics not found in Devlin.
  • Nelson, D. L., and M. M. Cox. (ed.). 2008. Lehninger principles of biochemistry, 5th ed. Worth, New York. This is very good for most of what you need but lacks the clinical correlations found in Devlin.
  • Salway, J. G. 2006. Medical biochemistry at a glance, 2nd ed. Blackwell Science, Malden, Mass. This is very good for general principles and topics, and metabolic pathways and regulation. Good focused clinical correlations.
  • Salway, J. G. 2004. Metabolism at a glance, 3rd ed. Blackwell Science, Malden, Mass. This is very good for learning metabolic pathways and regulation, probably the best that I have seen but is physical large in size. Some students find the illustrations too complicated.

The following textbooks are also useful:

  • Braunwald, E., A. S. Fauci, D. L. Kasper, S. L. Hauser, D. L. Longo, and J. L. Jameson (ed.). 2001. Harrison's principles of internal medicine, 15th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York.
  • Scriver, C. R., A. L. Beaudet, D. Valle, W. S. Sly, B. Childs, K. Kinzler, and B. Vogelstein (ed.). 2001. The metabolic and molecular bases of inherited disease, 8th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York.

The following may be quite useful also:

For example, the following references may be found in the MRC Library:

  •  Clark, K.A., A. S. McElhinny, M. C. Beckerle, and C. C. Gregorio. 2002. Striated muscle cytoarchitecture: an intricate web and form and function. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology 18:637-706.
  • de Camilli, P., F. Benfenati, F. Valtorta, and P. Greengard. 1990. The synapsins. Annual Review of Cell Biology 6:433-460.
  • Higgs, P. E., and S. E. Mackinnon. 1995. Repetitive motion injuries. Annual Review of Medicine 46:1-16.
  • McDonald, J. W. 1999. Repairing the damaged spinal cord. Scientific American 281:64-73.
  • Moghaddam, B. 1999. Glutamate and schizophrenia. Science & Medicine 6:22-31.
  • Worton, R. G., M. J. Molnar, B. Brais, and G. Karpati. 2001. The muscular dystrophies, p. 5493-5523. In C. R. Scriver, A. L. Beaudet, W. S. Sly, D. Valle, B. Childs, K. W. Kinzler, & B. Vogelstein (ed.), The metabolic and molecular bases of inherited disease, 8th ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York.

 

C2000 Resources PBLM

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Home Page

Submit your questions and comments to the following:
eniederhoffer@siumed.edu