Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Core Course Descriptions

Fall Courses

This course covers essential techniques used in genetic engineering.  Assuming modest background in biology, the course introduces fundamental aspects of molecular biology including mechanisms for storage of information in DNA and transfer of this information to RNA and protein molecules.  Manipulations of DNA molecules to rearrange or remodel genetic information ("cloning") are described from both theoretical and practical viewpoints.
Topics covered include the use of restriction endonucleases, amplification of DNA sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), detection of DNA and RNA using hybridization (Southern and Northern blotting), properties of cloning vectors and their use in constructing genomic and cDNA libraries, DNA sequencing and sequence analysis, creating and detecting mutations in DNA and introducing these mutations into a genome, and expression and characterization of proteins.

MBIOL 6410

BLCHM 6410

The Biochemistry course covers the structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins, as well as the thermodynamics and kinetics of their interactions with each other and with other biologically important molecules. It is expected that all students have taken an undergraduate course in Biochemistry, and you may find it useful to review chapters discussing the above-mentioned subjects in an undergraduate Biochemistry textbook. You will also need to have a basic working knowledge of kinetics and thermodynamics. (So, if you are not comfortable working with equilibrium constants, free energies, and rate constants, please review these topics in an undergraduate chemistry text.)
There are no required texts for this class; readings from various texts will be made available to the class. Some professors may administer a pre-quiz at the start of their lectures to make sure you are adequately prepared for the material to be covered.

To receive further details and updates, please contact barbara.saffel@genetics.utah.edu

This course covers transmission of the genetic analysis in humans and various model organisms.  Some of the Molecular Biology Program students have not had adequate preparation in Genetics (such as a comprehensive undergraduate course in Genetics), and have struggled in the graduate course. To prevent such problems, all students will be given a simple exam the week before the semester begins. This entrance exam will cover basic concepts in Genetics.  You should have no problem with this entrance exam if you review the CD-Rom/Booklet entitled Interactive Genetics.  This review should include all of the problems on the CD. 

You can find the books on reserve at the campus libraries or you can check it out from the Program Office or buy it (ISBN 0-7380-1546-6) for $16.00 from Hayden-McNiel Publishing.  To receive further details, please contact barbara.saffel@genetics.utah.edu.

Topics covered include: Basics of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, with applications in biochemistry; transport phenomena; enzyme kinetics and inhibition; kinetic isotope effects; principles and applications of absorbance, fluorescence, and CD spectroscopies.

This course provides an integrated approach to the applications of NMR and X-ray crystallography in structural biology. Topics covered include:  basic NMR theory, the principles of multidimensional NMR methods and their applications for the study of macromolecules; methods of macromolecular crystallization and crystal structure determination.

This course covers both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene regulation.  Lectures cover recent advances in these fields with material based on the primary literature. The transcriptional regulation section covers, basic mechanisms of gene activation and repression, chromatin remodeling machines, regulation of transcription activation by signal transduction cascades.  The post-transcriptional section covers mechanisms regulating RNA processing  (splicing, editing, and transport), translation and mRNA stability. Grades are based on in-class exams and problem sets.

An examination of research integrity and other ethical issues involved in scientific research. Topics may include scientific fraud, conflicts of interest, plagiarism and authorship designation, and the role of science in formulating social policy. This course is designed for graduate students, post-docs and regular faculty in the sciences.

Spring Courses

This is a one half semester course which focuses on the mechanisms of chemical reactions involving peptides and proteins and methods for their study. Subject matter includes enzyme mechanisms, chemical modification of proteins and cofactor chemistry. Prerequisite: organic chemistry

This course covers basic and advanced topics related to cell structure and function including cytoskeleton, membrane trafficking, protein targeting/modification and degradation, cell cycle regulation, and signal transduction.