Core Courses

020.637 Genomes and Development
This is an advanced course that focuses on current problems in Developmental Biology along with modern approaches to studying this topic, with an emphasis on developmental genetics.
Instructors: Van Doren, Spradling and Bortvin
Spring, 3 hours

020.668 ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
An advanced course in organization and function of eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes, including discussion of techniques to analyze gene structure and transcription.
Prerequisite: 020.305 or equivalent
Instructor: Schleif
Fall, 3 hours

 

020.674 GRADUATE BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
This course provides an overview of protein and nucleic acid structure, fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics, ligand binding, folding and stability of macromolecules, and the physical principles of fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
Prerequisites: 020.305-306
Instructors: Woodson, Bowman, Brand, Hill
Spring, 3 hours

020.686 ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY
All aspects of cell biology are reviewed and updated in this intensive course through critical evaluation and discussion of the current scientific literature. Topics include protein trafficking, membrane dynamics, cytoskeleton, signal transduction, cell cycle control, extracellular matrix and the integration of these processes in cells of the immune system.
Instructors: Cunningham, staff
Fall, 3 hours

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Elective Courses

020.601 CURRENT BIOLOGY RESEARCH
Instructors: Staff
Fall

 

020.610 DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
This course focuses upon the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development. Topics include the specification of neural tissues, genesis and differentiation of individual neurons, extension of axons and axon guidance, formation of synaptic connections, maturation of neuronal circuits, and plasticity of neuronal circuits in the adult nervous system. The format of the course will be a mix of lectures and discussions of papers. Reading will include selected articles from the recent literature. Taking the course at the graduate level will involve presentation and discussion of original research articles.
Prerequisite: 080.304 or permission of instructor
Instructors: Norris and Kirkwood
Spring, odd years

020.612 INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN BRAIN
This course explores the outstanding problem of biology; how knowledge is represented in the brain. Relating insights from cognitive psychology and systems neuroscience with formal theories of learning and memory, topics include (1) anatomical and functional relations of cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system, thalamus, cerebellum, and spinal cord; (2) cortical anatomy and physiology including laminar/columnar organization, intrinsic cortical circuit, hierarchies of cortical areas; (3) activity-dependent synaptic mechanism; (4) functional brain imaging; (5) logicist and connectist theories of cognition; and (6) relation of mental representations and natural language.
Instructor: Hedgecock
Spring

020.613 BIOLOGY SCIENCE WRITING
Instructor: A. Huang
Spring

020.614 SIGNALING IN DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE

Limit: 50, same as 020.317

Instructor: Kuruvilla

Fall

020.618 DRUG DISCOVERY – PRECLINICAL ASPECTS
Instructor: Freire
Spring - even years

020.629 CANCER BIOLOGY

This research oriented course is open to all graduate students. Seniors by permission only. Lectures include updates of recent findings in carcinogenesis, proliferation, apoptosis, and novel chemotherapeutic targets.

Instructor: Huang
Spring

020.630 HUMAN GENETICS
Instructor: Hedgecock
Fall - odd years

020.634 CHROMATIN, GENE EXPRESSION, AND EPIGENETICS
An advanced course in molecular genetics covering various aspects of gene expression, including the structure of the nucleosome, effects of chromatin on transcription of eukaryotic genes, mechanisms of enhancer function, and the role of nuclear organization on gene expression. The course will consist of lectures as well as presentations of current papers by the students.
Instructors: Moudrianakis, Beemon, Huang
Fall - even years, 2 hours

020.638 REGULATION AND MECHANISMS OF THE CELL CYCLE
The great progress in eukaryotic cell cycle research in the past decade was made possible by a unique synergism between different modern biological approaches (genetic, cell biological, biochemical and developmental). These approaches will be highlighted in this course. We will cover the mechanisms the cell employs to carry out its duplication cycle, such as DNA replication, mitotic spindle function and cytokinesis, as well as the regulatory mechanisms that govern these processes. The relationship of cell cycle biology to the cancer problem will receive special attention.
Prerequisites: 020.305, 020.306, and 020.330, or equivalent
Instructors: Hoyt
Spring - even years

020.639 MACROMOLECULAR ASSEMBLIES IN BIOLOGY
Multisubunit complexes are emerging as important mediators of many cell biological processes. This course will discuss a variety of macromolecular assemblies. Function, composition and structure will be addressed.
Instructors: Schroer, Zheng
Fall - odd years

020.646 BIOLOGICAL SPECTROSCOPY
This course provides a theoretical background for fluorescence spectroscopy and demonstrates how fluorescence can be used to advantage to address important problems in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology and cell biology.
Instructor: Brand
Fall - odd years, 2 hours

020.650 EUKARYOTIC MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
This course will analyze the molecular mechanisms responsible for the control of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Topics will include the mechanisms governing transcription initiation, elongation, and termination; mechanisms of RNA processing and export; role of chromatin structure in transcription; nuclear organization; imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation.
Instructors: Beemon and Corces
Fall - odd years, 3 hours

020.672 MICROCALORIMETRY OF STABILITY AND PROTEIN INTERACTIONS

Instructor: Friere

Spring

 

020.674 GRADUATE BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

This course will provide an overview of protein and nucleic acid structure, fundamentals of thermodynamics and kinetics, ligand binding, folding and stability of macromolecules, and the principles of biophysical methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR and X-ray crystallography

Instructor:   Woodson/ Brand/Hill/Lattman    

  

020.679 ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL MICROSCOPY
This course builds upon the basic skills and knowledge students acquired in 020.395 and 020.397. The course will emphasize the integration and use of various light and electron microscopy techniques and their application to various biomedical research related questions; with students participating in the design, implementation, and analysis of their own experiments or experiments pertaining to ongoing research in the Center. The course will be comprised primarily of a practical "hands-on" component but will also include applied theory as students will read, analyze and discuss current journal articles.
Prerequisite: 020.395, 020.397, or permission of instructor.
Instructor: McCaffery
Spring (even years)

020.680 FUNDAMENTALS OF DRUG DESIGN
Instructor: Freire
Fall - odd years

250.689 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
Introduction to the principles, methods, and approaches employed in the study of the energetics of proteins and nucleic acids, with emphasis in understanding the relationship between structure, energy, dynamics and biological function. Topics include classical, chemical, and statistical thermodynamics, kinetics, theory of ligand binding, and conformational equilibria.
Prerequisites: 020.305, Physical chemistry 030.301-302
Instructors: Garcia-Moreno and staff
Fall, 3 hours

250.690 METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS
Introduction to the methods employed in the study of energetics, structure, and function of biological macromolecules. Topics include optical spectroscopy, transport methods, NMR, X-ray crystallography. Course emphasizes theoretical understanding and practical knowledge through problem solving and literature discussion.
Prerequisites: highly recommended: 250.685 and 250.689, or equivalent coursework.
Instructors: K. Fleming and staff

020.730 SEMINAR: MEMBRANES FROM MODELS TO CELLS
Instructor: Edidin
Spring - even years

020.731 SEMINAR: MOLECULAR MORPHOGENESIS
Instructors: Fire, Koshland,
Fall - even years, 2 hours

020.735 SEMINAR: MEMBRANE TRAFFICKING
Instructors: Wendland, Mccaffery
Fall - odd years, 2 hours

020.739 SEMINAR: TOPICS IN BIOCHEMISTRY
Topics in Biochemistry deals with minireviews taken from the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Students select a topic of their choice from the "Compendium of Minireviews" for the current year, and present it before the class for discussion. The course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates.
Instructor: Bessman
Spring, 2 hours


020.801-802 RESEARCH- BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Independent research for the Ph.D. dissertation.
Instructors: Staff

020.823-826 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
Training in techniques of biological research in research laboratories. Open to first-year biology graduate students only.
Instructors: Staff

 

Students may also take courses on other campuses with permission of the Director of the Graduate Program.

School of Medicine (Course Listings)
The School of Public Health (Course Listings)

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