Electives for SCS Students in the CBI Program

CBI Training Program General Coursework

CBI trainees take at least one course outside of their home departments. This is in addition to the CBI Core Courses (Chem 590A – Chemical Biology Tutorial and CBI Laboratory Methodologies) and MCB 580 Research Ethics and Responsibilities taken during students’ first year and the ongoing CBI Seminar Series.

Courses from which SCS students may choose:

MCB 400 - Cell Structure and Function. Principles of eukaryotic cell biology; consideration of molecular and fine structural components of the cell with an emphasis on experimental analysis of the relationship of structure to function of gene, membrane, cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix. Prerequisite: MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253, and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 254 or MCB 450 or consent of instructor.

MCB 401 - Cell & Membrane Physiology. Cellular and molecular basis of physiological process with an emphasis on phenomena taking place at the membrane of cells and organelles (e.g., signal transduction, ion transport, synaptic transmission, nerve conduction, bioelectricity, synaptic plasticity.) Structure and function of biological membranes through a quantitative lens. Prerequisite: MCB 252 or consent of instructor.

MCB 402 - Sys & Integrative Physiology. Examines organ physiology of animals; primary emphasis is on the control systems underlying regulation of homeostasis in mammals, including human beings. Prerequisite: MCB 252 or consent of instructor.

MCB 405 - Genetics and Genomics. Study of genetics as a discipline, genetic analysis as a tool to understand biology and the role of genome sciences in biology. Prerequisite: MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, and MCB 253; or consent of instructor.

BIOC 406 - Gene Expression. Introduction to gene expression and how different segments of gene expression pathways including gene transcription, RNA processing, protein translation, targeting, activity and turnover are modulated to maintain cellular homeostasis. The technologies (both general and specialized) used currently to analyze gene expression and the regulation of protein function are also discussed. Same as MCB 406. Prerequisite: MCB 354 or consent of instructor.

MCB 408 - Immunology. Introduction to fundamentals of immunology with emphasis on biological application; basic background for understanding immunological responses and techniques applicable to biological research. 4 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253, and MCB 354; or consent of instructor

MCB 410 - Developmental Biology. Survey of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in development and growth of animals. Topics to be covered include fertilization and early cell lineage, body axis formation, gastrulation, neural induction and patterning, segmentation, and other aspects of pattern formation including organogenesis of branching organs, limb development and regeneration. Prerequisite: MCB 252 and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 254, or consent of instructor.

MCB 412 - Cellular Molec Neurobiology. Cellular and molecular basis of form and function of the nervous system with emphasis on chemical signaling. Topics will include: combinatorial regulation of neurotransmission, nerve terminal, molecular organization of postsynaptic sites, retrograde signals, neurotrophins, cytoskeleton, growth cone motility, gene regulation, axon target selection, chemoaffinity hypothesis, calcium signaling in plasticity, and neurological disorders and therapies. Same as NEUR 422. Prerequisite: MCB 252 and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354 or consent of instructor.

MCB 413 - Endocrinology. Physiology and biochemistry of the endocrine system and its hormones with special reference to vertebrates and to human endocrine disorders. Prerequisite: MCB 252 or consent of instructor. One semester of biochemistry is recommended.

MCB 414 - Introduction to Neurobiology. Introduction to the physiology of nerve cells, mechanisms of neural integration, and the organization of sensory and motor systems; also introduces neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, neural development, neural plasticity, and the physiological basis of behavior. Same as NEUR 404. Prerequisite: MCB 252 or consent of instructor

MCB 415 - Struct Funct of Nervous System. Examines the structural organization and function of the major systems of the nervous system. Lecture and laboratory. Same as NEUR 425. Prerequisite: MCB 401 or MCB 412, or MCB 414, or consent of instructor

MCB 416 - Integrative Neurophysiology. Advanced studies of single-neuron function and systems neurophysiology. Topics include: ion channels, ionic basis of neural potentials, small neural networks, central pattern generators, neural coding, visual system, auditory system, motor system, sensorimotor integration, learning, and emotion. Same as NEUR 426. Prerequisite: MCB 401 or MCB 412, or MCB 414, or consent of instructor. Fall 2008.

MCB 418 - Human Genetics. Studies the techniques employed for genetic analysis of human traits; discussion of genetic mechanisms operative in human development, metabolism, and behavior; and genetics and human disease. Prerequisite: MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253, and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354, or consent of instructor.

MCB 420 - Molecular Immunology. Molecular basis of normal immune responses to infectious agents and cancer. Structural and biochemical understanding of key immune molecules. In addition to basic immune system components (such as B and T cells), topics will include autoimmune diseases, allergic responses, and immunotherapeutics. Prerequisite: MCB 252 and MCB 354, or consent of instructor.

MCB 421 - Microbial Genetics. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial genetic systems; emphasis on typical data analyses, together with the basic classes of genetic phenomena. Prerequisite: MCB 300 or consent of instructor

MCB 424 - Microbial Biochemistry. Examines the biochemical ecology of diverse microbial groups with emphasis on anaerobic systems. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: MCB 350 and MCB 354, or consent of instructor.

MCB 425 - Molecular Biophysics. Same as BIOP 420. Examines structure and function of biological macromolecules and supramolecular assemblies; methods for three-dimensional structure determination. Specific topics include: diffraction methods, protein structure and the molecular basis of enzyme catalysis, antibody structure and function, virus structure and assembly; membrane proteins, microtubules and other supramolecular assemblies, nucleic acid structure, protein-nucleic acid interactions. Prerequisite: MCB 354; CHEM 440, or equivalent; or consent of instructor.

MCB 426 - Bacterial Pathogenesis. Emphasizes prokaryotes that cause important diseases in humans and other animals; host-parasite bacteriology; and chemistry and genetics of mechanisms of pathogenesis. Prerequisite: MCB 300 and MCB 354, or consent of instructor.

MCB 427 - Infection and Immunity. Study of the field of immunology with emphasis on the host's interaction with microbes. Topics will include self versus non-self recognition in the immune system, effector mechanisms of immunity to infection, inherited and acquired immunodeficiencies, and vaccine designs. Prerequisite: MCB 300, MCB 354, and MCB 408; or consent of instructor.

MCB 430 - Molecular Microbiology. Modern contributions to the science of microbiology; emphasizes the structure, function, and synthesis of informational macromolecules and on the role microorganisms have played in molecular biology. Prerequisite: MCB 300 and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354, or consent of instructor

MCB 431 - Microbial Physiology (MCBIO 331) . Examines bacterial physiology, including discussions of energetics, regulation of metabolism, and cell structure. Prerequisite: MCB 300 or equivalent; credit or concurrent registration in a biochemistry course

MCB 433 - Viral Pathogenesis (MCBIO 351). Emphasizes molecular aspects of virology, drawing heavily on animal virus models and focusing on fundamental principles of virus structure, replication, genetics and virus-host interactions that lead to disease development. Stresses both common and unique aspects of strategies employed by the different major families of eukaryotic RNA and DNA viruses and how these lead to acute, persistent or chronic infections, or the development of cancer. Prerequisite: MCB 300 and credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354; or consent of instructor

BIOC 446 - Physical Biochemistry. Physical properties of biological macromolecules, with special emphasis on proteins and nucleic acids; the use of physical methods for the characterization of such substances. Same as CHEM 472 and MCB 446. Prerequisite: CHEM 440 or CHEM 444; MCB 354 or MCB 450 or equivalent is recommended.

MCB 450 - Introductory Biochemistry (BIOCH 350). Chemistry and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, and coenzymes and their relation to the regulation and processes of organisms, cells, and subcellular components. Not intended for students in the MCB or biochemistry curricula. Students may not receive credit for both MCB 450 and MCB 354. Prerequisite: CHEM 232 or CHEM 236, or equivalent, or consent of instructor.

MCB 452 - Biochemistry I. Principles, chemistry, and methods of analysis of the composition and processes of living systems. Prerequisite: CHEM 205 or CHEM 222, and CHEM 332 or CHEM 436; or MCB 354; or consent of instructor.

BIOC 455 - Technqs Biochem & Biotech. Introduction to modern methods of experimentation with biochemical experimentation. Lectures and labs on the theory and practices underlying various methods and instrumentation. Includes protein purification and quantitative analyses, immunoassays, enzymology, protein and DNA sequencing, DNA arrays, Mass spectroscopy, and bioinformatics. Prerequisite: CHEM 232 or CHEM 236, or equivalent; credit in MCB 251 or equivalent, and BIOC 450 or MCB 354 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.

MCB 480 - Eukaryotic Cell Signaling. General principles of molecular signaling regulating membrane, cytoplasmic, and nuclear events in eukaryotic cells with emphasis on mammalian systems. Contemporary methods of investigation and the principles of identifying and solving problems related to signal transduction will be emphasized. Prerequisite: MCB 400 or consent of instructor.

MCB 481 - Developmental Neurobiology. Principles of vertebrate and invertebrate developmental neurobiology with emphasis on the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling neuronal determination, axon pathfinding, synapse formation, and plasticity. Prerequisite: MCB 400 or MCB 412 or consent of instructor.

MCB 482 - Biological Clocks. Study of the nature, mechanisms, functions, development, and evolution of the biological rhythms associated with geophysical cycles; emphasizes circadian rhythms and their role as biological clocks for the timing of photoperiodism, celestial orientation, human physiology and behavior. Prerequisite: MCB 353 or consent of instructor.

MCB 484 - Model Organisms & Epigenetics. Explores the main eukaryotic model genetic organisms/systems used in molecular and biomedical research including plants, animals, insects, fungi, and cell culture. The framework for lectures and discussions focuses on epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation and genome organization. Includes reading, discussion, the presentation of the primary research literature with emphasis on experimental methods and design. This course may not be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: MCB 250-MCB 253 and MCB 354, or graduate standing, or consent of instructor.

MCB 501 - Advanced Biochemistry. Focuses upon structure-function analyses of biomolecules and the chemical and evolutionary foundations of metabolic networks. Emphasis is on research methodology and current problems

MCB 502 - Advanced Molecular Genetics. An advanced course in molecular genetics. Emphasis is on research methodology and current problems.

MCB 505 - Neurochemistry. The fundamentals of neurochemistry and topics of current interest; detailed study of chemical transmission, including metabolism, neuroanatomical distribution, pharmacology, and functions of neurotransmitters. Lecture-seminar. Same as PSYC 505, and NEUR 505. Prerequisite: MCB 350, PSYC 210, or consent of instructor

MCB 546 - Bioenergetics. Describes and analyzes the principles of biological energy transduction using diverse examples from prokaryotic and eukaryotic metabolism; includes fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, methanogenesis, and photosynthesis. Meets during the last half of the spring term. Same as BIOP 546. Prerequisite: MCB 354 and CHEM 440, or equivalent; or consent of instructor.

MCB 561 - Mechanisms Viral Pathogenesis. Lecture-discussion on topics of molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis. Mechanisms of infection, virulence, viral spread, interaction with the immune system, persistence and other host-parasite relationships are covered using modern literature and in depth exploration of several animal virus systems. Same as VP 519. Prerequisite: MCB 430 and either MCB 433 or VP 637; MCB 350, MCB 452 or MCB 453; consent of instructor.

MCB 562 - Advances in Microbiology. Discussions of current research in the following areas of microbiology: (a) general microbiology; (b) microbial physiology and metabolism; (c) immunochemistry; and (d) molecular genetics. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.