CYTOSKELETON - Microtubule Dynamics in the Cell Cycle
Author(s): Hannah Pie1, Kathleen Hoffman2
1. Howard Community College 2. University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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- NIQB Cell Biology - CYTOSKELETON MODULE Student Version.docx(DOCX | 53 KB)
- NIQB Cell Biology - CYTOSKELETON MODULE- Instructor Version - no assessment.docx (Instructors only)(DOCX | 752 KB)
- NIQB Cell Biology - CYTOSKELETON MODULE- Student Pre-Work.docx(DOCX | 264 KB)
- License terms
Description
This module is designed to help students strengthen skills in quantitative reasoning using mathematical models of biological systems presented in graphs, dimensional analysis, and comparison of rate changes. The module provide review on the roles of microtubules in the cell cycle and discusses how certain cancer treatments are designed to hinder those roles. Students calculate and compare rates of polymerization and depolymerization of microtubules during the cell cycle from graphical representations and then examine how different cancer drugs affect these rates. Students utilize dimensional analysis to calculate how many tubulin dimers are lost per second during depolymerization as well as how many GTP molecules are hydrolyzed per second during polymerization to provide a scale for the extent of these process. Pre-work is provided to prepare students for the biological concepts related to microtubules as well as to review dimensional analysis and calculations of slopes. This module is designed for students to work in small teams to discuss and answer the questions in the module activity.
This module was developed and implemented as part of the NEXUS Institute for Quantitative Biology (NIQB), which is a collaborative project funded by the National Science Foundation's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (NSF-IUSE) initiative. NIQB is a collaboration between University of Maryland, Baltimore County (DUE-1821274), Anne Arundel Community College (DUE-1821179), Community College of Baltimore County (DUE-1821249), Howard Community College (DUE-1820903), and Montgomery College (DUE-1821169).
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
- Pie, H., Hoffman, K. (2023). CYTOSKELETON - Microtubule Dynamics in the Cell Cycle. NEXUS Institute for Quantitative Biology (NIQB), QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/KF56-W917