BIOL 5410 Biochemistry of Proteins and
Nucleic Acids (4 semester hours) Chemistry and metabolism of amino acids
and nucleotides; biosynthesis of nucleic acids; analysis of the structure and
function of proteins and nucleic acids and of their interactions including
chromatin structure. Prerequisite: biochemistry or equivalent. (4-0) Y
BIOL 5420 Molecular Biology (4
semester hours) Genetic analysis of gene structure (mutations and their
analysis, complementation, and recombination), gene expression (transcription,
RNA processing, translation), and the regulation of gene expression in selected
model systems (viral, prokaryotic, organellar,
eukaryotic); principles of genetic engineering (cloning and recombinant DNA
technology). (4-0) Y
BIOL 5430 Macromolecular Physical
Chemistry (4 semester hours) Structures and properties of macromolecules,
interactions with electromagnetic radiation, thermodynamics of macromolecular
solutions, and transport processes. Calculus and general physics
required. (4-0) Y
BIOL 5440 Cell Biology (4 semester
hours) Molecular architecture and function of cells and subcellular
organelles; structure and function of membranes; hormone and neurotransmitter
action; growth regulation and oncogenes; immune
response; eukaryotic gene expression. Prerequisites: BIOL 5410 and BIOL
5420, or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (4-0)
Y
BIOL 5V50 Methods in Molecular and Cell
Biology I (2-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in biological, biophysical,
and biochemical techniques. Supplemental lectures and
demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) Y
BIOL 5V51 Methods in Molecular and Cell
Biology II (2-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in advanced
techniques in molecular and cell biology. Supplemental lectures
and demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) Y
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Work is offered beyond the core curriculum in four major areas that parallel
four of the lecture-type core courses. Each area provides elective courses,
advanced colloquia, and dissertation opportunities. Electives will usually be
offered only one semester per year and in some cases only once every other
year.
(Bulla, DeJong, Gonz�lez,
Goodman, Gray, Hannig, Levene, Marsh, Miller, Reitzer)
BIOL 6211
Posttranscriptional Regulation of Gene Expression (2 semester hours)
Emphasis on current research in regulation of gene expression involving
posttranscriptional mechanisms. Topics include translational regulation
of gene expression, protein and messenger RNA turnover, regulation of protein
folding and localization, protein phosphorylation,
and the formation of active and inactive protein complexes. (2-0) T
BIOL 6352 Modern Biochemistry I (3
semester hours) Structure and function of proteins, including enzyme kinetics
and catalytic mechanisms; structure and metabolism of carbohydrates, including
oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport
mechanisms. For students who have not had undergraduate biochemistry. (3-0) S
BIOL 6353 Modern Biochemistry II (3
semester hours) Continuation of BIOL 6352. Structure and
metabolism of lipids, including membrane structure and function.
Nitrogen metabolism: amino acids and nucleotides. Polynucleotide
replication, transcription, and translation. For students who have not
had undergraduate biochemistry. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6354 Microbial Physiology (3
semester hours) Microbial physiology considers the basic processes of microbes,
especially those variations that are unique to microbes: energy generation,
fermentations, and other pathways specific to bacteria, cellular structure and
differentiation, and bacterial responses to the environment. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6V19 Topics in Biochemistry
(2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.
([2-5]-0) Y
BIOL 6V28 DNA Replication,
Recombination, and Repair (2-3 semester hours) Focuses on central aspects
of DNA enzymology and metabolism.The
mechanisms of DNA replication, recombination, and repair are fundamental to
understanding many principles of molecular biology, genetics, molecular
medicine, and evolution. This course is mechanistically oriented and will
provide a strong working knowledge of these processes through an extensive
overview, which includes discussions of some of the most recent publications on
these topics. (2-3) T
BIOL 7V10 Research Seminar
in Biochemistry (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing
independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related
literature. (P/F grading. May
be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) Y
(Breen, DeJong, Gonz�lez,
Goodman, Hannig, Levene, Marsh, Miller, Pace, Reitzer)
�BIOL 5381 Genomics (3 semester
hours) Genome sequence acquisition and analysis; genomic identification;
biomedical genome research; DNA microarrays and their
use in applied and healthcare research. (3-0)
T
BIOL 5376 Applied Bioinformatics (3
semester hours) Genomic information content; data searches and multiple
sequence alignment; mutations and distance-based phylogenetic analysis;
genomics and gene recognition; polymorphisms and forensic applications;
nucleic-acid and protein array analysis; structure prediction of biological
macromolecules. Introductory statistics and 2 semesters of calculus
required. (3-0) T
BIOL 6121-6123 Biotechnology I-III
(1 semester hour) Gene cloning, nucleotide sequencing and other aspects of
genetic engineering. This course has between one and five components,
which will be offered sequentially and which may therefore be taken
independently (with consent of instructor). (0-2) Y
BIOL 6227 RNA World (2 semester
hours) The nature of modern RNA suggests a prebiotic RNA world. This course will begin with a
presentation of the arguments that a �RNA world� existed before the evolution
of protein synthesis. Additional topics will include RNA evolution, the origin
and evolution of introns, RNA replication, the
evolution and involvement of tRNAs and rRNAs in protein synthesis, the structure and mechanism of
large catalytic RNAs such as Group I and Group II introns and the RNase P RNA, the
structure and mechanism of small nuclear RNAs such as
hammerheads and hairpins, RNA editing, and the mechanism of telomerase. (2-0) T
BIOL 6228 Prokaryotic Gene Expression
(2 semester hours) Principles of gene regulation in bacteria are discussed. The
readings consist of recent developments described in the research literature.
Topics will vary, but will include bacterial chromosome structure, function and
structure of RNA polymerase and promoters, the mechanism of action of various
repressors and activators, the coordination of gene expression in phage lambda,
during nitrogen limitation, and during sporulation.
(2-0) T
BIOL 6335 Graduate Medical Microbiology
(3 semester hours) This course expose students to
advanced concepts and principles of medical microbiology. In addition, the
course will deal with mechanisms associated with disease processes, microbial
virulence, the control of bacterial growth, and host responses to infection. (3-0) T
BIOL 6336 Parasitology
(3 semester hours) A survey of microorganisms that live in close association
with other organisms. From bacteriophages to
trypanosomes, this course will cover a wide range of plant and animal parasites
and symbionts and their interactions at the molecular
level. (3-0) T
BIOL 6337 Regulation of Gene Expression
(3 semester hours) An in depth look at how the cell makes use of its genetic
information, with a primary focus on the mechanisms of transcription
regulation. The course emphasizes a critical discussion of techniques and
results from the recent scientific literature. Topics are taken from eukaryotic
and/or prokaryotic systems and typically cover areas such as promoter organization,
RNA polymerase and transcription factor structure and function, the
organization and packaging of chromosomes, whole-genome analyses, and the
pathways that control gene expression during growth and development. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6338 Symbiotic Interactions (3 semester
hours) An in depth look, at the molecular level, of
well characterized symbiotic interactions between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
This course makes use of recent scientific literature and the latest
discoveries in the area of
symbiosis. (3-0) R
BIOL 6373 Proteomics
(3 semester hours) Protein identification, sequencing, and analysis of
post-translational modifications by liquid chromatography/tandem mass
spectrometry; determination of protein three dimensional structure by x-ray
crystallography; its use in drug design; understanding protein interactions and
function using protein chip microarrays. (3-0) T BIOL 6V29 Topics in Molecular Biology
(2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.
([2-5]-0) Y
BIOL 6V31 Molecular Genetics (3-4
semester hours) A graduate survey of the phenomena and mechanisms of heredity,
its cytological and molecular basis, with a focus on bacterial and model
eukaryotic systems. Topics will include fundamentals of Mendelian
Genetics, genetic recombination and genetic linkage, as well as, gene structure
and replication, gene expression and the transfer of genetic information,
mutation and mutagenesis, and applications of recombinant DNA techniques to
genetic analysis. ([3-4]-0) Y
BIOL 6V34 Quorum Sensing (2-3 semester hours) The focus of this course is the analysis of quorum sensing
and its role in pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. This course makes use of
recent scientific literature and the latest discoveries in the area of
population density dependent gene expression. [(2-3)-0] R
BIOL 7V20 Research
Seminar in Molecular Biology (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis
of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent
related literature. (P/F grading. May be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) Y
(Gray, Levene, Xia)
BIOL 6V30 Biopolymers
(2-4 semester hours) Structure and properties of biologically important
macromolecules. ([2-4]-0) R
BIOL 6V32 Electron Microscopy (2-3
semester hours) Theory and practice of electron microscopy. The
laboratory section includes specimen preparation, operation of the electron
microscope, and darkroom work. ([1-2]-2) R
BIOL 6V33 Biomolecular
Structures (2-3 semester hours) This course
includes a discussion of protein motifs such as alpha-domains, beta structures,
and alpha/beta structures in enzymes, of protein folding and stability, and of
DNA structures. Circular dichroism, NMR, and
crystallographic methods of structural determination are presented. Types of
proteins whose structure and function are considered include transcription
factors, proteinases, membrane
proteins, proteins in signal transduction, proteins of the immune system, and
engineered proteins. Students also receive instruction in the viewing and
manipulation of protein and DNA structures using an advanced molecular modeling
system. ([2-3]-0) Y
BIOL 6V39 Topics in Biophysics (2-5
semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) T
BIOL 7V30 Research
Seminar in Biophysics (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of
ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related
literature. (P/F grading. May
be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) R
(Breen, Burr, D�Mello, Draper, Goodman, Pace)
BIOL 6340 Developmental Neurobiology
(3 semester hours) Examines some of the remarkable progress
made in recent years towards understanding how the nervous system develops.
Among topics covered are signals regulating formation of neural tissue,
patterning of the brain, differentiation and migration of neurons, formation of
neural connections, neuronal survival, and elimination of superfluous cells.
Course is designed to be interactive and will include lectures, student
presentations, and discussion of important discoveries in the area. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6345 Molecular Biology of HIV/AIDS
(3 semester hours) Topics include a discussion of the history and epidemiology
of AIDS, the likely origins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the
molecular and cell biology of HIV replication. The cell biological basis of the
immunodeficiency induced by HIV infection is examined, as well as that of
common accompanying pathologies such as Kaposi�s sarcoma. The molecular basis
of a variety of existing and potential anti-viral therapies is considered. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6351 Immunobiology
(3 semester hours) Interactions of antigens and antibodies. Fine structure of antibodies. Tissues and
cells of the immune system. Response of B and T
lymphocytes to antigens. Cellular interactions in humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Genetic basis of antibody diversity. Immunity
and infectious diseases. (3-0) Y
BIOL 6356 Eukaryotic Molecular and Cell
Biology (3 semester hours) Structural organization of eukaryotic cells;
regulation of cellular activities; membranes and transport; cellular
replication; examples of cell specialization such as blood (immunoglobins)
and muscle cells. For students who have not had undergraduate cell biology.
(3-0)
BIOL
BIOL 6V41 Oncogenes
(2-4 semester hours) Subject matter includes a discussion of representative
examples of the principal categories of dominantly acting oncogenes.
The role in oncogenesis of tumor suppressor genes
(�recessive oncogenes�) is also considered, as are
anti-apoptotic oncogenes such as Bcl.
The roles that the proteins encoded by these genes play in growth hormone
signal transduction, gene regulation, cell cycle regulation, and programmed
cell death will be examined. Students will also read and discuss the primary
literature in this field. ([2-4]-0) Y
BIOL 6V42 Membrane Biology I (2-4
semester hours) Membrane traffic in the secretory pathway.
Topics covered include insertion of proteins into membranes, the mechanism of
vesicular traffic from the rough endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane, protein sorting
during secretion and membrane biogenesis. ([2-4]-0) T
BIOL 6V43 Membrane Biology II (2-4
semester hours) Membrane traffic in the endocytic
pathway. Topics covered include the structure, function and sorting of membrane
receptors, the formation and function of clathrin-coated
pits, membrane recycling and the biogenesis of endosomes
and lysosomes. ([2-4]-0) R
BIOL 6V44 Animal Cell Culture (2-4
semester hours) Theory and practice of the growth of animal cells in culture.
Topics include: the isolation and characterization of mammalian cell mutants,
chromosome mapping, the use of somatic cell hybrids to
investigate eukaryotic gene regulation, gene transfer into animal cells, gene
targeting and production of �gene knockouts.� ([2-4]-0) R
BIOL 6V49 Topics in Cell Biology
(2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.
([2-5]-0) Y
BIOL 7V40 Research
Seminar in Cell Biology (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of
ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent
related literature. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0)
Y
BIOL 5V00 Topics in Biological Sciences
(1-6 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours
([1-6]-0) Y
BIOL 5V01 Topics in Biological Sciences
(1-6 semester hours) Includes a laboratory component. May be repeated for
credit to a maximum of 9 hours (1-[0-10]) Y
BIOL 5V52 Methods in Molecular and Cell
Biology III (2-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in advanced techniques
in molecular and cell biology. Supplemental lectures and
demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) T
BIOL 5V95 Individual
Instruction (1-6 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of
6 hours ([1-6]-0) Y
BIOL 6V00 Topics in Biological Sciences
(1-6 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours
([1-6]-0) Y
BIOL 6V01 Topics in Biological Sciences
(1-6 semester hours) Includes a laboratory component. May be repeated for
credit to a maximum of 9 hours (1 [0-10]) Y
BIOL 6V04 Biology Seminar (1-6
semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 6 hours ([1-6]-0) Y
BIOL 6V92 Readings in Molecular and Cell
Biology (3-9 semester hours) ([3-9]-0) Y
BIOL 6V95 Individual Instruction
(1-6 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 6 hours
([1-6]-0) Y
BIOL 6150 Current
Research in Molecular and Cell Biology (1 semester hour) Analysis of recent
developments in molecular and cell biology. Students will attend
presentations of current research literature. Normally
required of all degree students. To be taken before the preliminary
examination. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit to a maximum of 4 hours.)
(1-0) Y
BIOL 6252 Current Research in Molecular
Biology (2 semester hours) Recent developments in
biosynthesis, structure, function and expression of nucleic acids in
prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Students will participate in a critical analysis of
current research publications. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit to a
maximum of 8 hours.) (2-0)
BIOL
BIOL 6V02 The Art of Scientific Presentation
(1-2 semester hours) Students learn how to give an effective seminar by reading
scientific articles on a central theme in biology and then delivering a
presentation, first to their classmates, followed by another presentation to
the Molecular and Cell Biology faculty and students. While learning the focused
theme, students acquire skill sets in critical reading of scientific literature
and oral presentation. Required for all Ph.D. students.
(P/F grading) ([1-2]-0) Y
BIOL 7450 Research Seminar in Molecular
and Cell Biology (4 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing
independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related
literature. (P/F grading. May
be repeated for credit.) (4-0)
BIOL
BIOL
BIOL