Program Comparison
The Biological Chemistry (BC) Program is one of two closely related interdepartmental graduate programs at the University of Utah. The other program is the Molecular Biology (MB) Program. Graduate programs such as the University of Utah’s BC and MB Programs have historically been viewed as either “molecular” or “biochemical”, depending on the background of the students and the techniques employed to investigate biological systems. At the University of Utah, the BC and MB graduate programs in the biological sciences recognize that these traditional lines are oftentimes crossed by the best scientists. Thus, the BC and MB Interdepartmental Programs at the University of Utah are designed to support overlap in training and methodology. Extensive collaboration among our BC and MB research groups promotes multidisciplinary science and significantly enriches an already diverse student training environment.
The research interests of the faculty in the BC and MB Programs overlap extensively, and this is reflected by the fact that many faculty members participate in both Programs. Distinguishing the BC and MB Programs’ first year course of study are several “core” courses that reflect both the backgrounds of the students entering the BC and MB Programs and the research objectives of the faculty within the BC and MB Programs. MB students focus on a “molecular” curriculum that includes Genetics and Genomes, Gene Expression, and Cell Biology, while the Biological Chemistry students have a more “chemical” curriculum that includes Biophysical Chemistry, Protein Chemistry, and Structural Methods. All first-year BC and MB students take Protein/Nucleic Acid Biochemistry and choose from the same list of electives and journal club/grant writing courses.
Some of the most important similarities and differences between the BC and MB Programs are highlighted in the outline below. To avoid confusion and delays in processing applications, students are asked to apply to only one of the two Programs. Students should identify the Program that best accommodates their research interests and provides the most appropriate core curriculum. If you have any questions about either Program, and/or their relationships to one another and the participating departments, please feel free to contact the Program Directors.
Biological Chemistry Program |
Molecular Biology Program |
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| Dennis Winge, Director | Brad Cairns, Director | |
| Research Areas | ||
| Enzymology, Biophysical Chemistry, | DNA Replication and Recombination, |
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| Metabolism, Computational Biology, Targeted Drug Delivery, | Regulation of Transcription and Translation, Membrane Biology, |
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| Natural Products Chemistry, | Cytoskeleton Structure and Function, |
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| Bioorganic Chemistry, | Gene Expression, Neurobiology, |
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| Structure & Function of Proteins and Nucleic Acids , | Immunology, Virology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, |
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| Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules | Macromolecular Structure and Function |
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| Participating Departments | ||
| Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, | Biochemistry, Biology, Human Genetics, | |
| Medicinal Chemistry, | Neurobiology and Anatomy, | |
| Oncological Sciences, and Pharmaceutics | Oncological Sciences, and Pathology | |
| Typical First Year Curriculum | ||
| Protein/Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (1/2 semester) | Protein / Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (1/2 semester) | |
| Genetic Engineering (1/2 semester) | Genetics and Genomes | |
| Biophysical Chemistry (1/2 semester) | Cell Biology (1/2 semester) | |
| Structural Methods (1/2 semester) | Gene Expression (1/2 semester) | |
| Protein Chemistry (1/2 semester) | 3 Elective Courses | |
| 3 Elective Courses | ||