BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
A.L. Goldstein (Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), J. Vanderhoek (Director of the Ph.D. field in biochemistry and molecular genetics), M. Allard, M. Badamchian, J.M. Bailey, P.E. Berg, B. Bouscarel, K. Brown, A. Chiaramello, A.M. Colberg-Poley, N. Colburn, D. Derse, R. Donaldson, S.W. Fu, L.L. Gallo, D. Goldman, E.P. Hoffman, V.W. Hu, D. Johnson, F. Kashanchi, A. Komarov, J.H. Kramer, A. Kumar, S. Ladisch, P.S. Latham, T. McCaffrey, R.G. Mage, I.T. Mak, C. Merrill, S.A. Moody, T. Moody, W.C. Nierman, F.P. Noonan, S.J. O'Brien, R.K. Packer, T. Parsons, S.R. Patierno, M. Rojkind, M.C. Rose, P. Schwartzberg, C. Smith, Y. Su, M. Sutherland, F. Turano, G. Walker, W. Weglicki, T. Wellems, J. Weiss
Master of Science in the field of biochemistry—Prerequisite: a bachelor's degree. The undergraduate program must have included the following courses, or equivalent: BiSc 11– 12; Chem 11– 12, 22, 151– 52, 153– 54; Phys 1, 2.
Required: the general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts andSciences, including Bioc 221– 22, 223 or 224, 234, and the Comprehensive Examination. Students may choose a 30-credit thesis option or a 36-credit nonthesis option. Master of Science in the field of genomics and bioinformatics—This degree program is offered by Columbian College of Arts and Sciences in cooperation with the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Required: the general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, including the genomics and bioinformatics core of Bioc 221– 22, 227, 234, 236– 37, and 254. A biological track requires 32 or 35 credits, depending upon whether the student chooses a thesis or nonthesis option; a computer science track requires 38 credits for both thesis and nonthesis options. Computer science course requirements vary according to the track chosen, and electives are chosen from lists of designated courses available in the department. Consult the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or the Department of Microbiology and Immunology for program requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy in the field of biochemistry and molecular genetics—Required: the general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, including the biomedical sciences core curriculum, Bioc 225, 227, 234, 236– 37, 250, 252; BiSc 228; and the General Examination.
Research fields: endocrinology—thymosins, signaling pathways, eicosanoids; viral gene regulation; antiviral chemotherapy; immunology—immunochemistry, viral gene transactivation; lipids and membranes—essential fatty acids, membrane biochemistry, complex lipids, cholesterol; radiation biology—carcinogenesis, apoptosis; molecular biology of cancer—breast cancer, leukemia, homeobox genes; genomics and proteomics—vascular biology, gene array technology, atherosclerosis, HIV-1 and other human retroviruses.
| 221–22 |
General Biochemistry (4–4) |
Gallo and Staff |
| |
A comprehensive course in general biochemistry for graduate students in biomedical sciences and undergraduate students in biology and chemistry. Prerequisite: Chem 152, 154. (Academic year) |
| 223 |
Biochemical Techniques (3) |
Vanderhoek |
| |
Lectures cover basic laboratory techniques used in contemporary biochemical and molecular biological research. (Fall) |
| 224 |
Biochemical Techniques Laboratory (3) |
Vanderhoek |
| |
Common laboratory techniques used in life science laboratories to separate and characterize macromolecules, including chromatography, gel electrophoresis, immunoassays, spectroscopy, and centrifugation. Corequisite: Bioc 221. Laboratory fee, $75. (Fall) |
| 225 |
Metabolism (4) |
Gallo and Staff |
| |
Metabolic pathways and integration of metabolic processes. Limited to Ph.D. students in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences. |
| 227 |
Biochemistry Seminar (1) |
Hu and Staff |
| |
Current literature in biochemistry. Limited to graduate students in the department. May be repeated for credit. (Fall and spring) |
| 230 |
Topics in Protein Chemistry and Enzymology (2) |
Hu and Staff |
| |
Directed readings in various areas of enzymology. Enrollment limited to graduate students in the department. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Bioc 234. |
| 234 |
Structure and Function of Proteins and Enzymes (3) |
Hu and Staff |
| |
Structure–function relationships of proteins, enzyme kinetics, regulation and reaction mechanisms, and other special topics. Prerequisite: Bioc 221. (Spring) |
| 235 |
Current Topics in Bioenergetics (1 or 2) |
Staff |
| |
Directed readings in various areas of bioenergetics. Enrollment limited to graduate students in the department. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Bioc 222. |
| 236 |
Fundamentals of Genomics (2) |
McCaffrey and Staff |
| |
Genomic theories, methods, and data analysis including bioinformatics and database mining. Same as Micr 236. Prerequisite or corequisite: Bioc 221–22 or BmSc 210, 211. |
| 237 |
Fundamentals of Proteomics (2) |
Kashanchi and Staff |
| |
Proteomic methods, including two-dimensional gels, image analysis, and protein identification. Same as Micr 237. Prerequisite: Bioc 236/Micr 236. |
| 240 |
Nutrition (2) |
Walker and Staff |
| |
Content includes discussion of RDA, nitrogen balance, vitamins and minerals, diets, and other special topics. Prerequisite: Bioc 201 or 221–22. (Spring) |
| 250 |
Molecular Biology (3) |
Kumar and Staff |
| |
Content includes the organization and replication of genetic material, transcriptional and translational machinery, regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, and other special topics. Prerequisite: Bioc 201 or 221–22. (Fall) |
| 251 |
Current Topics in Molecular Biology (1 or 2) |
Kumar and Staff |
| |
Directed readings in the area of molecular biology. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment limited to graduate students in the department; others may enroll with approval of instructor. Prerequisite: Bioc 250. (Spring) |
| 252 |
Biochemical and Molecular Aspects of Selected Diseases (2) |
Kumar and Staff |
| |
Emphasis on the biochemical and molecular aspects of selected diseases. The format will be of a tutorial type, including presentations of material by students. (Spring, odd years) |
| 254 |
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (3) |
Berg and Staff |
| |
An intermediate-level molecular biology survey course. Prerequisite: Bioc 221 or BmSc 211. |
| 256 |
Molecular Genetics of Inherited Diseases (2) |
|
| |
Biochemical aspects of genetics and contributions of molecular biology to understanding of human mutations and hereditary diseases. Prerequisite: degree candidacy or permission of program director. (Spring) |
| 260 |
Biochemistry of Lipids and Membranes (2) |
Vanderhoek |
| |
Biochemistry, structure, and function of various lipid classes, membranes, and receptors. Prerequisite: Bioc 221–22. (Spring, even years) |
| 261 |
Current Topics in Lipids (1 or 2) |
Gallo, Vanderhoek, and Staff |
| |
Directed readings in the area of lipid biochemistry. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment limited to graduate students in the department. |
| 266 |
Cellular Biology (3) |
Vanderhoek and Staff |
| |
Structure and function of cellular membranes, cytoskeleton, subcellular organelles, cellular bioenergetics, and intercellular interactions. Prerequisite: Bioc 221–22. (Spring) |
| 271 |
Current Topics in Immunology (1 or 2) |
Goldstein and Staff |
| |
Directed readings in the area of biochemical immunology. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment limited to graduate students in the department. Prerequisite: Bioc 270. |
| 295 |
Research (arr.) |
Staff |
| |
Participation in a project under investigation in the department or one in a related field suggested by the student and approved by the staff. Content differs each time course is offered; may be repeated for credit. Laboratory fee, $100. (Fall and spring) |
| 298 |
Advanced Reading (1 to 6) |
Staff |
| |
Limited to master's degree candidates. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 6 hours. |
| 299–300 |
Thesis Research (3–3) |
Staff |
| 398 |
Advanced Reading and Research (arr.) |
Staff |
| |
Limited to students preparing for the Doctor of Philosophy general examination. May be repeated for credit. |
| 399 |
Dissertation Research (arr.) |
Staff |
| |
Limited to Doctor of Philosophy candidates. May be repeated for credit. |
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