Dr. Joel B. Piperberg

Education:

B.A. and Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Courses Taught:

BIOL 100 -- General Biology
BIOL 263 -- Cell Biology
BIOL 466 -- Molecular and Cellular Techniques
BIOL 204 -- Human Biology
BIOL 465 -- Developmental Biology
BIOL 264/265 -- Frontiers in Biomolecular Science

Areas of Specialization:

Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology

Research Interest(s):

My major research interest is the control of gene expression in the embryonic chick retina. Production of the enzyme glutamine synthetase has been shown to be induced by exposure of the tissue to glucocorticoid (steroid) hormones. We are in the process of constructing cDNA libraries of retinas treated with glucocorticoids and/or 4°C-storage in an effort to determine if any other mRNAs (or proteins) are induced by either treatment individually or both treatments combined. Other studies involve the effect of certain drugs and chemicals on the osmotic fragility of red blood cell membranes and enzyme kinetics of wheat germ acid phosphatase. Students have participated in all aspects of my research. Students learn a number of standard and sophisticated techniques that are valuable and essential experiences for those planning to pursue a career in research.

Selected Publication(s):

2008. Instructors Manual for Gerald Karp's Cell & Molecular Biology:Concepts and Experiments, 5th ed. NY:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2008. Test Bank for Gerald Karp's Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments, 5th ed. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2005. Instructors Manual for Gerald Karp's Cell & Molecular Biology:Concepts and Experiments, 4rd ed. NY:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2005. Test Bank for Gerald Karp's Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments, 4th ed. NY: John Wiley & sons, Inc.

2003. Instructor's Manual for BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology (Learning System 1.0) by Pruitt, Underwood and Surver, 2nd ed., NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2002. Instructors Manual for Gerald Karp's Cell & Molecular Biology:Concepts and Experiments, 3rd ed. NY:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2000. Instructor's Manual for BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology (Learning System 1.0) by Pruitt, Underwood and Surver. NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1999. Instructors Manual for Gerald Karp's Cell & Molecular Biology:Concepts and Experiments, 2nd ed. NY:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1996. Instructors Manual for Gerald Karp's Cell & Molecular Biology. NY:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1995. DNA Fingerprinting: Laboratory Exercise, Teacher's Notes and Essay. Biotechnology Laboratory Manual , Addison-Welsey Publishers. (with G. M. Farganis and C. E. Hepfer).

1994. Comparison of the glucocorticoid receptors from retina and liver of the embryonic chick, Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, 68: l07-116. (with R. Ford, B. Archilla, K. Doolan and L. Remington).

1993. An introduction to DNA fingerprinting. American Biology Teacher 55: 216-221. (with C. Hepfer and G. Farganis)

1984. Glutamine synthetase in cultured whole retinas from the embryonic chick: role of protein and RNA syntheses in 4 ° C storage enhancement. Cell Biophysics 6: 131-148. (with L. Reif-Lehrer)