01:694:411 Molecular Pathways

Prerequisites  

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 01:694:407-408

Course Syllabus

Fall 2023 Syllabus (Fall 2024 will be updated soon)

Course Description  

This is an upper level course, targeted at seniors. The purposes of the course are:

• to introduce students to several important research areas of advanced molecular biology and biochemistry, in particular topics related to molecular pathways and signal transduction (past topics include cell cycle regulation, proteomics and retrotransposon)
• to train students to think logically and independently through active participation in class discussion.

The course will present contemporary concepts and experimental techniques not covered in other classes

Topic 1.          Cell Cycle-regulation of mitosis (Dr. F. Matsumura)

1                      Cell division control, G2/M transition

2                      Maturation-Promoting Factor (MPF)

3                      Cyclin

4                      cdc2 Kinase

5                      Regulation of MPF- Proteolysis & Phosphorylation

6                      Exam 1 for the lectures (1-5) by Dr. F. Matsumura

7                      Downstream Events I (nuclear lamin)

8                      Downstream Events II (Chromosome segregation)

9                      Polo-like kinase1

10                    Current Topics: iPS

11                    Current Topics: iPS

12                    Exam 2 for the lectures (7-11) by Dr. F. Matsumura

Topic 2           Transposition  (Dr. A. Gabriel):

1                      Retrotransposon Replication Strategies

2                      Retrotransposon

3                      Reverse Transcription

4                      Transposon Integration I

5                      Transposon Integration II

6                      LINEs & SINEs & Processed Pseudogenes

7                      Exam 3 for the lectures by Dr. A. Gabriel

Topic 3.          Genomics, molecular pathways, and human evolution. (Dr. S. Anderson)

1                      Human genome, mutations, and evolution

2                      Meiosis, recombination, and haplotypes

3                      Genes that make us human, I

4                      Genes that make us human, II

5                      Aging, I

6                      Aging, II

7                      Review session

8                      Exam 4 for the lectures by Dr. S. Anderson

Course URL

Canvas

Course Satisfies Learning Goals

1. Students should demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge that is needed to begin biomedical research and that is required for post-graduate exams and studies.

2. Students should demonstrate the ability to find and evaluate information about specific biological systems or problems.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Grades will be assigned on the basis of four exams (90-95%), as well as the participation in class discussion (5-10%). The exams will consist of essay questions in which students are required to synthesize information from lectures and discussions.

Course Materials

There is no required textbook for this course. Rather papers from the current literature will be selected for lectures and discussion.

Students are required to participate in class discussion (believe me it is fun!).

Course Closed?

If this course is closed please contact Dr. Matsumura (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Faculty

Dr. Fumio Matsumura
A323 Nelson Biology Labs
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr. Stephen Anderson
CABM305
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.