Cell & Systems Biology

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number: CSB329H1S Term: Winter 2024

Course Title: Stem Cell Biology: Office As needed by emailing Prof.
Developmental Hours Mitchell directly for an
mechanisms and cell- and appointment. There will be time
based therapeutic location: for questions about course
strategies material during lectures.
Course Day/Time: Mondays 3:10-5pm Location: FE114
Instructor: Jennifer Mitchell Email: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant: See below Email: See below
Course Administrator: Nalini Dominique-Guyah Email: [email protected]

Communication and Quercus

Please check the Quercus page often. Announcements will be posted on Quercus as the course
progresses. All assignments are to be uploaded via Quercus. Any relevant material regarding the
course will be posted on Quercus.

For any administrative questions, please contact Nalini via email.

Course Requirements
Prerequisites: BIO230H1

Course Description
Stem cells provide the basis for cellular diversity in multicellular organisms and have enormous
therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. The course will introduce third year students to
the differences and similarities between stem cells from cnidarians to mammals comparing their
diverse contributions to development, the molecular and genetic mechanisms that regulate
them, and potential clinical applications.

The course will focus on stem cells in non-mammalian organisms and their contributions to early
developmental events as well as the role of stem cells in mammalian embryonic and postnatal
development, the latest research and cell-based therapeutic applications and challenges.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will:
 Acquire concepts and vocabulary associated with stem cell biology.
 Critically evaluate primary research articles, stem cells in the media.
 Using appropriate scientific language, communicate and discuss.

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 Independently make connections and associations between different concepts.
 Work cooperatively in small groups.

Required Course Material

Lectures and other relevant course documents will be posted on Quercus. No textbook is
required, but the 5th edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al. is a recommended
text to review cell and molecular biology concepts discussed in the course.

Relevant Dates
Please visit the Arts and Science website for a list of academic dates and deadlines:
https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/dates-deadlines/academic-dates

Topics (subject to change)

1) Properties of stem cells: division, self-renewal and differentiation.
2) Role of stem cells in Porifera (sponges) and Cnidarian development and tissue
regeneration.
3) Somatic and germ line stem cells.
4) Neural stem cells: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly).
5) Retinal Stem cells: Danio rerio (Zebrafish).
6) Stem cell niches and extracellular matrix microenvironments.
7) Mammalian embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.
8) Mammalian blood stem cells.
9) Somatic stem cells: Muscle, cardiac and skin stem cells.
10) Stem cell therapies: progress, challenges, ethical and political issues.

Evaluation

1) Midterm Test 20 % Monday February 26th at 3pm.

2) Final Assessment 40 % TBD - Exam Period (April 10-30, 2024).
3) Annotated bibliography 10% Due Wednesday Feb 14th before 5pm.
4) Group presentation 15% Presented in tutorial sessions.
5) Quizzes and tutorial participation 15 % Details provided below.

TAs
Nawrah [email protected]
Mario [email protected]
Shanelle [email protected]
Tiegh [email protected]
Mariia [email protected]
Saloni [email protected]

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Lecture/Tutorial Schedule

Week of LECTURE TUTORIAL Notes

3:10-5:00PM
Jan 8 Lecture 1 No Tutorials this week
Jan 15 Lecture 2 Tutorial 1
Jan 22 Lecture 3 Tutorial 2
Jan 29 Lecture 4 Tutorial 3 News article due
Monday Jan 29 by 10am
Feb 5 Lecture 5 Tutorial 4
Feb 12 Lecture 6 Tutorial 5 Bibliography due
Wednesday Feb 14th by 5pm
Feb 19 READING WEEK-No class
Feb 26 MIDTERM TEST Monday 3:10-5:00PM
(covers lectures 1-5, tutorials 1-4) No tutorials this week
March 4 Lecture 7 Tutorial 6
March 11 Lecture 8 Tutorial 7
March 18 Lecture 9 Group Presentations
March 25 Lecture 10 Group Presentations
April 1 Lecture 11 Group Presentations
April 10-30 Final Assessment-date TBD (all CSB329 material)

NEWS article: With your tutorial group, you will choose a news article and linked primary
research article about stem cells and submit this to your TA for approval by Monday Jan 29 by 10
am. Submit using the Quercus submission link.

Annotated Bibliography: Based on your chosen news article and linked primary research article,
you will prepare an annotated bibliography. This is an individual assignment that should be
completed in your own words. More details will be provided on Quercus and in tutorials. The
Annotated Bibliography is due Wednesday Feb 14th by 5pm. Submit using the Quercus
submission link.

MIDTERM TEST: The CSB329 midterm test will be held during class time (3:10-5:00pm) on
Monday, Feb 26. The test may include material from tutorials, lectures and required readings.
Tests will be a combination of fill in the blank, multiple choice and short answer. Short answer
questions must clearly answer the question, without providing additional unrelated material.
There is no make-up test. If you miss the midterm, for a valid reason, then its value (20%) will be
added to the final exam, making your final worth 60%.

FINAL ASSESSMENT: TBD during the Faculty Final Assessment Period April 10-30. 2024. The final
assessment will cover all course materials.

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Generative AI: you can use Generative AI in certain instances in this course
Students may use generative artificial intelligence tools to contribute to their understanding of
course materials. These tools may be useful when gathering information from across sources and
assimilating it for understanding.

Students may NOT use artificial intelligence tools for taking tests, writing assignments or for
preparing slides for the group presentation. Doing so will be considered academic misconduct.
(See Academic Integrity below.)

Assignment submission policy

All assignments are to be submitted electronically via the link on Quercus. All CSB329
assignments must be written in your own words.

Late assignment penalty policy

Any written assignment submitted after the deadline (due date and time) will be considered late.
Late written assignments (without acceptable documentation) will be penalized 10% per day up
to a maximum of 30%. For example, if a written assignment is due at 2:00 pm on a Wednesday,
then you have until 2:00 pm on Thursday to hand it in with only a 10% penalty, Friday at 2:00pm
with 20% penalty, and until Saturday at 2:00pm with 30% penalty. Written assignments more
than 3 days late will not be accepted. Under exceptional circumstances, please contact Nalini.

Missed test policy

If a student misses a test, quiz or tutorial in CSB329, they must provide documentation
supporting their inability to complete it; the UofT Verification of Student Illness or Injury or a
Declaration of Absence will be accepted. Students must provide this documentation to Nalini
within 1 week of the missed assessment.

Students must follow the rules of the Faculty of Arts and Science regarding missing term tests
and providing documentation.
https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academics/student-absences

Please also note: Students who have two term tests scheduled at the same time because they
have knowingly enrolled in courses that conflict will not be given special consideration under
these circumstances by the Department of Cell and Systems Biology.

Also, regularly scheduled classes and tutorials take precedence over term tests that are held
outside of class time. So, students need to contact the administrator or professor for your other
course, should this happen. The CSB329 term test is during class time.

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Acorn Absence Declaration

You can use the Absence Declaration tool on ACORN to record any absence from academic work,
whether for medical or non-medical reasons (e.g., COVID, cold, flu and other illnesses, injuries or
family situations). You should complete the Absence Declaration anytime you are absent from
academic work, not just when you have missed a specific course deadline. Please note that you
remain responsible for meeting the course requirements. In certain cases, you will need to
submit a U of T Verification of Student Illness or Injury form (VOI):

For complex petitions: If you are submitting a petition due to illness or injury and your petition is
complex, a VOI can help support the petition request.

For exam rewrite petitions: If you are submitting a petition to rewrite an in-person final exam,
you will need to submit the VOI form as supporting documentation.

For longer term illness: The Absence Declaration tool can be used to declare an absence up to
seven days from the current day, plus two days retroactive. For absences that extend beyond this
time limit, you will need to submit the VOI form.

The VOI must be completed by a medical practitioner and must include the day(s) of your illness
or injury. You are encouraged to speak to your College Registrar’s Office if you are unclear about
submitting a VOI.

Health and well-being

Your health and well-being in this course are important to everyone – from the instructors, TAs,
administrative staff and the University of Toronto as a whole. The following are suggestions and
resources to make sure you have a productive and healthy semester. The university experience
can be a challenging one, there is no need to go about it alone. If you or anyone you know could
use someone to talk to (or text with), here are some resources in addition to your instructors,
program coordinators, and TAs:

 Your College Registrar: uoft.me/registrars

 UofT Health and Wellness: 700 Bay Street Toronto, ON M5G 1Z6
416-978-8030 | [email protected]

24/7 emergency counselling services:

 U of T My Student Support Program (My SSP) | 1-844-451-9700. Outside of North
America, call 001-416-380-6578.
Culturally-competent mental health and counselling services in 146 languages for all
U of T students.
 Good2Talk Student Helpline | 1-866-925-5454
Professional counseling, information and referrals helpline for mental health,
addictions and students’ well-being.

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Use of a Plagiarism Detection Tool for Course Assignments

“Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays to the University’s plagiarism
detection tool for a review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so,
students will allow their essays to be included as source documents in the tool’s reference
database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. The terms that
apply to the University’s use of this tool are described on the Centre for Teaching Support &
Innovation web site.” (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq).”

Academic Integrity
“Academic integrity is a foundation of our university community’s intellectual life. What does it
mean to act with academic integrity? Acting with academic integrity means not ‘cheating’ to get
ahead. U of T supports the International Center for Academic Integrity’s definition of academic
integrity as acting with honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage in all
academic matters.” https://www.academicintegrity.utoronto.ca/

“The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. Academic
integrity is a fundamental value of learning and scholarship at the U of T. Participating honestly,
respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in this academic community ensures that your U of T degree
is valued and respected as a true signifier of your individual academic achievement.
The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters outlines the behaviours that
constitute academic misconduct, the processes for addressing academic offences, and the
penalties that may be imposed. You are expected to be familiar with the contents of this
document. Potential offences include, but are not limited to:

In papers and assignments:

 using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement
 submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the
instructor
 making up sources or facts
 obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment (this includes working
in groups on assignments that are supposed to be individual work)

On tests and exams:

 using or possessing any unauthorized aid, including a cell phone
 looking at someone else’s answers
 letting someone else look at your answers
 misrepresenting your identity
 submitting an altered test for re-grading

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Misrepresentation:
 falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not
limited to) doctor’s notes
 falsifying institutional documents or grades

All suspected cases of academic misconduct will be investigated following the procedures
outlined in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have any questions about what is
or is not permitted in this course, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have questions
about appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to seek out additional
information from me or other available campus resources like the College Writing Centres, the
Academic Success Centre, or the U of T Writing Website.”

Avoiding Plagiarism
https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize/

Accommodations
Students with Disabilities:
“Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you
have a disability or health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to
approach me and/or the Accessibility Services Office as soon as possible. The Accessibility
Services staff are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange
appropriate accommodations. The sooner you let them and me know your needs, the quicker we
can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course.”

Accessibility Services: [email protected] or

https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/accessibility-services/

Religious Observances:
“The University provides reasonable accommodation of the needs of students who observe
religious holy days other than those already accommodated by ordinary scheduling and statutory
holidays. Students have a responsibility to alert members of the teaching staff in a timely fashion
to upcoming religious observances and anticipated absences and instructors will make every
reasonable effort to avoid scheduling tests, examinations or other compulsory activities at these
times.

Please reach out to your course instructor or administrator as early as possible to communicate
any anticipated absences related to religious observances, and to discuss any possible related
implications for course work.”

Family Care Responsibilities:

“The University of Toronto strives to provide a family-friendly environment. You may wish to
inform me if you are a student with family responsibilities. If you are a student parent or have

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family responsibilities, you also may wish to visit the Family Care Office website
at familycare.utoronto.ca.”

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

“The University of Toronto is committed to equity, human rights and respect for diversity. All
members of the learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of
mutual respect where all members of our community can express themselves, engage with each
other, and respect one another’s differences. U of T does not condone discrimination or
harassment against any persons or communities.”