Basic Science Courses

BCMB 601 Research
Terms: Any

BCMB 605 Reading and Conference
Course Director: TBA with appropriate instructors
Terms: Any

BCMB 605 Journal Club - as assigned by mentor

   Protein Structure and Function Journal Club

   Metals and Membranes Protein Journal Club

   Signal Transduction Journal Club

BCMB 607 Seminar
Course Director: TBA with appropriate instructors
Terms: Any

Seminars presented by students, fellows, faculty, and visiting speakers on contemporary topics.

BCMB 617 Topics in Advanced Biophysical Chemistry

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CELL 603 Thesis
Term: Any

CELL 606 Journal Club
Course Director: Musil
Term: Fall, Winter, Spring

CELL 606A Developmental Biology Journal Club
Course Director: Christian
Term: Fall, Winter, Spring

CELL 606 Cell Biology Journal Club
Course Director: Musil
Term: Fall, Winter, Spring

CELL 606C Signal Transduction & Cancer Journal Club
Course Director: Rotwein
Term: Fall, Winter, Spring

CELL 607 Seminar
Course Director: TBA with appropriate instructors for topic
Term: Any

Human Gross Anatomy & Embryology. This course utilizes a regional approach to the study of the human body, including coverage of the various functional systems (e.g. cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine, etc.) and how the functions of theses systems are orchestrated by the central and peripheral nervous systems. The course consists of basic science lectures (anatomy, embryology), clinical lectures (surgery, radiology, ob-gyn, etc.), and viewing dissected human cadavers (although graduate students will not be performing these dissections). It is an excellent overview for any organismally-based graduate student, or a student interested in acquiring valuable teaching credentials.

Advanced graduate course designed to provide an overview of the major aspects of nervous system formation, plus more in-depth presentations of specific topics in the field of neural development and differentiation. Emphasis will be on recent insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the different phases of neural development, including patterning of the early nervous system, neurogenesis, neuronal migration and axonal outgrowth, synaptogenesis and plasticity, cell death, and neural stem cells in regeneration. Readings will be based selected reviews and articles from the current literature. Interactive discussion sections will involve critical analyses of recent research papers

CELL 616 Advanced Cancer Biology

The course consists of a comprehensive coverage of topics in cancer biology including mechanisms of carcinogenesis, the roles of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, molecular targets for novel therapeutic strategies, and an understanding of the pathogenesis of specific cancers such as breast, prostate, gastrointestinal, skin, and blood. Prerequisites: Instructor consent.

Cellular, molecular, and genetic approaches to understanding cell-cell signaling in embryonic patterning, regulation of morphogenesis, cell commitment, differentiation and ageing will be discussed. Students will be introduced to a variety of animal model systems, including Drosophila, Xenopus, zebrafish and mouse that are commonly employed to answer developmental questions. This course is intended to provide a general overview of the entire field of Developmental Biology, from classical embryological questions to current molecular and genetic analyses.

This course provides an introduction to the biology and genetics of the major animal model systems as well as laboratory demonstrations of state-of-the-art techniques. Students will gain a solid understanding of how mice, zebrafish, Xenopus, chickens, flies, moths and nematodes are used as tools to study key cell and molecular biology problems. This will help students better interpret the results of the many papers coming out each day in major journals. This course should also aid in making informed choices of thesis and qualifying exam topics. Grades will be based on student presentations of current topics and a final exam. Students at all levels are encouraged to participate.

Specific topics concerning mechanisms regulating gene expression will be covered. Some topics will focus on the role of particular transcription factor or co-activator families. Other topics will examine the role of transcriptional changes in regulating physiological processes. The course will involve lectures by faculty and interactive discussion of current papers. Students will be required to prepare a written research proposal. Prerequisite: CONJ 663

This course focuses on selected topics in signal transduction. Topics include aspects of receptor structure and function, roles of second messengers, serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinases and subcellular targeting of signaling components. Emphasis is on current areas of research. The course involves lectures by faculty and interactive discussion of current papers. Students are required to prepare a written research proposal. Prerequisite: CONJ 663.

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MGEN 601 Research, TBA, any term

MGEN 603 Dissertation, TBA, any term

MGEN 605 Reading and Conference, TBA, any term

Revised 11/11/2008

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MBIM 601 Research
Terms: Any

This course covers molecular biology and immunology of eukaryotic viruses. Particular emphasis is placed on structure, transcription and replication, entry, assembly and egress, latency, and oncogenesis.

This introductory course will provide students with an overview of how the immune system works and the special vocabulary and experimental systems that describe it. Reading and discussion of the textbook (first 10 chapters of Janeway's Immunobiology, 7th Edition) with study questions and occasional experimental papers. The course is designed for two kinds of students: those specializing in other areas who want to learn enough immunology to gain access to the experimental literature and those with a particular interest in immunology as preparation for the Immunology course (MBIM 612).

Through a combination of introductory lectures and reading and discussion of assigned research papers, the course examines in depth the basic principals of microbial pathogenesis. It uses well characterized systems in virology, bacteriology and parasitology to illustrate the concepts of colonization, tissue tropism, toxicity, evasion of the immune response, persistence, latency and vaccine development, among others. A basic knowledge of molecular biology is required; MBIM 610 or equivalent approved by course director is required.

The intention is to cover in some depth important concepts and some current issues in basic molecular and cellular immunology. The course will be primarily literature based, supplemented as necessary with lectures, review articles and textbook material. Students are expected to read the assigned material and to discuss questions in class. The course is taught by a small number of faculty, each of whom covers one area. Because the areas covered are chosen to reflect the areas of major active research in immunology, the actual topics may vary from year to year. Recent areas covered included: T cell activation and the immune synapse, NK receptors and related molecules and the expanding family of MHC class I like ligands; T and B cell development; T and B cell memory; toll-like receptors; T cell trafficking.

This course addresses: The fine structure of the gene. Co-linearity of genes and proteins. Mutations: Origin of hot spots. Regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Two component regulatory systems. Activation of gene expression. Transcription s factors and RNA polymerase. Anti s factors and control of development. Genetics of type III secretion. Regulatory pathways in the bacteriophage lambda. Generalized and site directed recombination. Allellic exchange mutagenesis. Transposable elements. Control of DNA replication and cell division. Partition of chromosomal and plasmid DNA during cell division. Programmed cell death in bacteria. Yeast gene expression and regulation. Fungal gene expression and regulation. An interview with the Course Director is a pre-requisite.

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