Writing……………Writing………………Writing…………

Have you ever asked yourself why your curriculum requires a W course? The simplist and, perhaps, most superficial answer is that it is a University mandate. On April 18, 1989, the University Faculty Senate established a Writing Across the Curriculum graduation requirement effective Summer Session 1990 for all students entering the University as baccalaureate degree candidates. The provision requires students to "complete at least [emphasis added] 3 credits of writing-intensive courses selected from W courses offered within a major or college of enrollment." In other words, the University says you must take a W course, and so you will, if you wish to earn a Penn State degree. But, beyond this legalistic aspect is the sound reasoning behind, and anticipated benefits from the requirement. Simply put, the ability to express one’s thoughts on paper - or computer screen - in a clear, concise, accurate and persuasive manner is a powerful indicator of a well-educated person. Writing forces us to organize and evaluate our thoughts in a way that speaking cannot do. Make no mistake about it...writing is often tough! Along with art and music, writing is one of the highest forms of human and individual expression. Is it so surprising, then, that many graduate and professional schools as well as employers ask for a writing sample in the form of an essay? The expected consequence of fulfilling the writing requirement is that it can and, in all likelihood, will have a significant bearing on progress toward career entry and, eventually, career advancement

One other important point of the writing requirement is that it be fulfilled with courses offered in the major. It can hardly be argued that writing in the arts and humanities, for example, takes a different form than writing in the sciences. As individuals educated in the sciences, graduates may be called upon to explain complex technical issues to a public anxious about the impact of such matters on their lives. The discipline that comes from clear and effective writing may spell the difference between an informed and understanding public or a needlessly apprehensive public.

Should students be required to do extensive writing in their chosen field? Definitely! Should students take at least 3 credits in writing-intensive courses? At least! Should students take writing courses seriously? The ability to write well marks the individual as a well-educated person. Seriously!

Meet Our New Faculty!

Dr. Pamela Mitchell received her BS in Biology from Rhode Island College and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Columbia University. Dr. Mitchell comes to us from the University of Zurich where she studied the role of the AP-2 transcription factor in craniofacial and nervous system development of the mouse. She joins the BMB Department as an associate professor. Her office is located in 332 S. Frear.

Dr. Bernhard Luscher has his primary appointment in the Biology Department with a secondary appointment in BMB. He received his diploma in biochemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Zurich. Dr. Luscher comes to us from the University of Zurich where he studied the molecular neurobiology of GABA receptors and neuron-specific gene expression. Dr. Luscher’s office is in 210A Mueller Lab.

COURSES - WHAT'S NEW FOR FALL?

...new sections to reduce class sizes....offerings of required courses in what have traditionally been the "off" semesters....that’s what’s new!!

These additional sections are listed in the printed Schedule of Courses, and they appear on the electronic listing of courses accessible through CAAIS.

In Fall semester, the BMB Department will be offering two sections of BMB 401. One section will be offered on TR at 11:15-12:05. The other section will be offered at 1:25-2:15 also on TR. BMB 401H will continue to be offered only in Fall.

The BMB Department is also pleased to be able to offer BMB 402 in Fall semester for the first time. This addition will enable students who begin their biochemistry sequence in Spring semester with BMB 401 to complete the sequence without having to wait a full year for the next Spring semester’s offering of BMB 402.

Put a ditto under BMB 402 for Spring of 2000. That’s right, there will be a second section of 402 offered in spring to reduce class size just as will be the case with BMB 401 in fall.

Two new changes are coming for Micrb 201. First, an additional section will be offered in the spring to reduce class size. Second, for the very first time, the department is planning to offer a section of Micrb 201H.

Watch for more information about these changes in the Fall semester BMB Newsletter.

NEW SYSTEM FOR FILING LATE DROPS AND OFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL

The University has announced the availability of on-line filing for Late Course Drop and official Withdrawal. You will now be able to process requests to late drop a course or withdraw from the University through an interactive module available through CAAIS. This is truly an interactive process. You will be asked to respond to several questions having to do with your reasons for wanting to take the late drop or withdrawal action. You will also receive information about possible alternatives and consequences of taking the requested action. You may be told to speak to your adviser before completing the action. You may even be denied your request, but one or more reasons will be provided. The intent of this new service is to provide you with a full range of options and explanations BEFORE you actually complete the action and to draw attention to issues that no one adviser may think of during an office meeting. Use this new opportunity WISELY!

FRESHMAN SEMINAR (FYS)........WHAT IS IT?

Unless you have been living in a cave somewhere, you are aware that the University has instituted a requirement for a First Year Seminar (FYS) for all students with first or second semester standing. MOST First Year Seminars will carry the unique designation, PSU xxx. A particular number has been assigned to each academic unit within the University. The Eberly College of Science’s designation is PSU 016. To distinguish various departmental seminars, most all of which will carry the PSU 016 label, a range of section numbers has been reserved for each major, and each will carry a subtitle indicating the discipline/topic to be emphasized in that section. Following is a list of FYS courses to be offered by the BMB Department. Most students interested in departmental majors will select a FYS from:

PSU 016 Sci 1st Yr Smnr, B M B

PSU 016 Sci 1st Yr Smnr, Micrb

PSU 016 Sci 1st Yr Smnr, Intro Biotechnology

At this time, two sections (Sec 150 and 151) of FYS are available for students thinking of majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; one section (Sec 300) for students interested in Microbiology; and one section (Sec 050) for students who may wish to pursue the Biotechnology major.

Because the BMB Department has required first year seminars (BMB/Micrb 010 and Biotc 001) for many years, there was no need to create courses to be in compliance with the new University policy. However, because the PSU xxx designation will be used University-wide, and since University computers will be programmed to look for the presence of PSU xxx courses to note completion of the FYS requirement on the student audit, the BMB Department has received approval to change the name and number of its first year seminars. Beginning in Fall 1999, all first or second semester students who plan to enter the BMB/Micrb/Biotc majors may register for the appropriate section of PSU 016.

WHAT DOES THE NEW FYS MEAN TO YOU?

If you have not yet taken BMB/Micrb 010 or Biotc 001, and you are scheduling your 3rd semester or higher, you will not be allowed to register for the FYS courses (they are open only to 1st or 2nd semester students). Be advised that you should plan to schedule one of the senior-level, one-credit seminar courses (BMB or Micrb 411 - they are different courses!). No petition will be needed to make this substitution. Simply register for either 411 course — preferably in your senior year - and the University computers will automatically replace the requirement for the BMB/Micrb 010 or Biotc 001 on your audit with the 411 course you complete.

NEW SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE TO BE OFFERED -

Dr. Gary Perdew announces the offering of a special topics course, Molecular and Cellular Toxicology, which will be crosslisted as BMB and VSc 497A. The course description follows:

Molecular and Cellular Toxicology is designed to provide a mechanistic understanding of how drugs and chemicals result in toxicity. The effects of chemicals at the cellular and molecular level are stressed.

Studies on mechanisms of toxicity influence a wide spectrum of toxicological interests from the basic to more applied. Elucidation of how chemicals work at the cellular and molecular level helps the physiologist or biochemist obtain a better grasp of normal processes. Principles of toxicology are integrated with knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and molecular biology to help the student better understand normal as well as abnormal cell biology.

BMB/VSc 497A will be offered MWF 12:20-1:10 in 106 Wartik.
 

STUDENTS TO ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The BMB Department is proud to have 5 of its students selected to attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Rochester on April 7-10^th. Participants compete at the college level for nomination, with final selection of who will be invited to present her/his work being made at the national level. The following students have been invited to attend this prestigious conference: Jayatri Das (Biol/BMB), working in Dr. Thomas’ lab; David Dudzinski (Chem/BMB), working with Dr. Farber; Kristina Havas (Micrb), working in the lab of Dr. Workman; Caroline Lee (Scien/BMB), who works under Dr. Assmann; and Lumelle Schmiedekamp (Chem/BMB), working with Dr. Pugh. GOOD LUCK TO ALL

MAINGI RECEIVES PHI BETA KAPPA AWARD

On December 4th, Shail Maingi was presented with one of only three Phi Beta Kappa prizes conferred on Schreyer Scholars from across the entire University for her Honors thesis proposal. The award was made at the Phi Beta Kappa Founders’ Day Reception held at the Nittany Lion Inn. Shail (12th, BMB/SOCBA) works in the laboratory of Keith Whitfield and her thesis will be in Biobehavioral Health.

AWARDS.....PRIZES....SCHOLARSHIPS....AWARDS....PRIZES...SCHOLARSHIPS

The Eberly College of Science held its annual Recognition Reception last October 2^nd, at the Nittany Lion Inn. The reception, co-sponsored by ECoS and the ECoS Alumni society, honors the recipients of college and departmental awards for 1998-99. The recipients and the awards each received are as follows:

Kelly DeCarlo; Ruth Ott Endowed Scholarship

Nicholas Paquette; Richard L. Maginnis Memorial Award

Sarfaraz Kabeer; Daniel R. Tershak Memorial Scholarship

Matthew Reeser; Daniel R. Tershak Memorial Scholarship

Caroline Sychterz; Arthur K. Anderson Memorial Award

Tamara Mochan; Jack and Eleanor Pettit Scholarship in Science

Jennifer Brincat; Eberly College of Science Alumni Scholarship

Brian Kelch; Eberly College of Science Alumni Scholarship

Niravkumar Mistry; Amos William and Annie Martha Unger Memorial Scholarship

Robert Gage; Charles R. Gerth Scholarship

Jennifer Grubb; Kevin Daniel Gilmore Memorial Grant-in-aid

Christine David; Irving and Jeanne Atlas Scholarship in Biochemistry

Nichole Bianco; Irving and Jeanne Atlas Scholarship in Biochemistry

Kirstin Milks; Homer F. Braddock College of Science Memorial Scholarship

Dennise Duan; Homer F. Bradddock College of Science Memorial Scholarship

Megan Berkessel; Homer F. Braddock College of Science Memorial Scholarship

Jayaram Srinivasan; Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Scholarship

Christpher Nguyen; Homer F. Braddock College of Science Memorial Scholarship

Pikai Oh; Homer F. Braddock College of Science Memorial Scholarship

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LEADING TO THESE AWARDS!!!

NEW PHYSICS SEQUENCE INTRODUCED

The Physics Department has announced the offering of a revised calculus-based introductory physics sequence that will eventually replace the current Phys 201, 202 and 203/204 series. This revision will impact all BMB majors who are required to take the calculus-based physics sequence. The Physics Department plans to phase in the new courses while phasing out the current ones by the Fall of 2000.

The new courses are Phys 211, 212, 213 and 214. All four courses, totaling 12 credits, will be required of BMB majors. The schedule of physics course offerings during the phase in/out period at University Park is as follows:

Summer 1999 201 202 203/4

Fall 1999 211 202 203/4

Spring 2000 211 212 203/4

Summer 2000 211 212 203/4

Fall 2000 211 212 213 & 214

Advising recommendations:

1. If you have already begun the existing physics sequence, plan to give the remaining courses in that series top priority in your scheduling. In other words, if there is a conflict between your next physics course and some other course, schedule the physics course.

2. If you have not yet begun the Physics sequence, wait until Fall to begin the new sequence. Do NOT plan to take Phys 201 in Summer. Any problem that might affect continuous enrollment would also likely necessitate a switch in physics sequences - NOT A GOOD SITUATION!

3. Although BMB majors will now be required to take 12 credits of physics instead of a possible 11 credits, the additional credit will be offset by a reduction in the credits for Chem 038, which will drop to 3 credits from the current 4 credits (see below).

CHANGE IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR CURRICULUM?

The Chemistry Department has received Senate approval to offer Chem 038 for 3 credits, a decrease of 1 credit from the present. The impact of this change on the three departmental majors is as follows:

1. BMB major - no impact. The decrease in O-chem is offset by an increase of 1 credit in the new physics requirements (see above).

2. Microbiology major - the available credit has been moved to the category of Supporting Courses and Related Areas ("free electives").

3. Biotechnology major - since Chem 038 is not required, there is no effect on the curriculum.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State University does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801; Tel. (814) 863-0471; TDD (814) 865-3175.

BMB Undergraduate Newsletter is a publication of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Items for inclusion in the newsletter should be sent to BMB Undergraduate Newsletter, 108 Althouse Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802. Tel. (814) 865-5497; FAX. (814) 863-7024. U.Ed. SCI 99-115

Editors: - Philip W. Mohr, Ph.D., PWM1@PSU.EDU

                  - Mardi D. Hockenberry, MDH1@PSU.EDU