BIOL 356
Connective Tissue Biology
Connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, basement membrane, skin, teeth, fat and
blood are crucial for providing structural support and contextual cues that sustain proper function of other
tissues and organs in the body. The purpose of this course is to provide students with a framework for
understanding these tissues, their cellular and extracellular interactions and their roles in organs commonly
studied in biomedical research. The course will review pathologies of connective tissues and discuss how
biomaterials interact with tissues for use in regenerative medicine. This course incorporates fundamentals of
biochemistry and cell biology to understand the structure, function, pathology, and repair mechanisms of
connective tissues.
Prerequisites
college-level cell biology and biochemistry.
Learning Objectives:
- Master basic structure and function of connective tissues and how they relate to other organs
- Appreciate the role of connective tissues in diseases
- Discuss properties of biomaterials required for regenerative medicine applications